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Showing posts from April, 2020

Coronavirus: When your child's in intensive care with Covid-19

Two mothers tell the BBC about their experiences as their young children battled the virus. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2Ylvzdt

Coronavirus: Three continents, four lives, one day

The stories of people who died on one day, from an exile who returned home to a disaster survivor. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2KOBvDQ

Coronavirus: 'Many said goodbye to loved ones in an ambulance'

Dr Nigel Kennea describes his role supporting bereaved families at one London hospital during the coronavirus pandemic. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/3d2Jp8D

How The Assistant exposes Hollywood's abuse silence

The movie which has roots in the exposure of power and abuse in the film industry after #MeToo. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2yUI310

The worldwide race to make solar power more efficient

Scientists are working on better solar cells that will turn more of the sun's rays into electricity. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/3aRfdMq

‘Justice not charity’ - the blind marchers who made history

Remembering the maverick blind campaigners who walked to London a century ago to demand equality. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2zL9haP

Lockdown homeschooling: The parents who have forgotten what they learned at school

Parents have been turning to Google to help them teach the things they’ve forgotten. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/3da1stP

Senate Democrat says Republican leader's plan to resume work puts lives in danger

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A U.S. Senate Democrat on Wednesday accused Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of endangering the lives of Senate staff if he brings them back to work next week without effective safeguards against coronavirus infection in place. Senator Chris Van Hollen, whose state of Maryland contains several suburbs of Washington where federal workers live, said he had written to McConnell to demand details of how staff will be protected when the Senate returns to session on Monday. "I am ready to see senators resume work in the Capitol, but without effective safeguards in place, Mitch McConnell is endangering the lives of the staff who work there – including many of my constituents – and undermining regional efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus," Van Hollen said in a statement. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2VLUyoG via IFTTT

Top coronavirus model predicts 100,000 dead by the end of the pandemic's 1st wave this summer

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By the end of the coronavirus’s “first wave” this summer, America will likely have buried close to 100,000 victims of the disease, researchers predict. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3aQHYZk via IFTTT

One dead, five missing after Canadian helicopter goes missing during NATO exercise

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Canadian prime Minister Jusin Trudeau has confirmed that one man has died and five others are missing after a Canadian military helicopter went missing during a NATO operation. Debris and the aircraft's black box have been found in the sea between Greece and Italy, a Greek military officer and public television said Thursday. Canada's armed forces said the helicopter had been involved in an accident after taking off from the Canadian frigate Fredericton on Wednesday. "Debris has been found in Italy's zone of control and intervention" in the Ionian Sea, the Greek military officer told AFP, specifying the wreckage belonged to the Canadian helicopter. Six crew were aboard the helicopter when it disappeared, the officer said on condition of anonymity. Greek public television reported that a body had been found amid the wreckage in international waters off the Greek island of Kefalonia. Greek public television ERT said Italian and NATO vessels were also taking part in ...

Philippines rejects China's territorial label on island

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The Philippines protested on Thursday China’s designation of a disputed South China Sea reef, which it has turned into a heavily fortified island base, as a Chinese “administrative center.” The Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement objecting to what it called China’s “illegal designation” of Fiery Cross Reef as a regional administrative center in the hotly contested Spratly archipelago. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused China last week of taking advantage of widespread distraction over the pandemic to advance its territorial claims. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3bOryCa via IFTTT

Cuban embassy in Washington struck by gunfire, suspect arrested

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A man armed with a high-powered assault rifle fired multiple rounds at the Cuban embassy in Washington early Thursday, authorities said, damaging the building but without causing any injuries. Police arrested the suspect, identified as 42-year-old Alexander Alazo of Aubrey, Texas. "This morning at approximately 2:15 am, US Secret Service officers responded to the Embassy of Cuba following reports of shots fired," the Secret Service said in a statement. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/35hW0SG via IFTTT

‘Women’s Groups’ Sat on Letter Urging Biden to Address Reade Allegation after Campaign Intervened

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A coalition of national women's advocacy groups drafted a letter urging Joe Biden to address sexual-assault claims by former staffer Tara Reade, but decided against releasing the letter publicly after the Biden campaign learned of the efforts, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.Instead, the unspecified groups decided to work with Biden advisers to try to pressure the campaign to address the allegations before the end of April, which is designated Sexual Assault Awareness Month.“Vice President Biden has the opportunity, right now, to model how to take serious allegations seriously,” the letter read. “The weight of our expectations matches the magnitude of the office he seeks.”As of April 30, a campaign spokesman has denied the allegations but Biden himself has not spoken about them on the record. The campaign circulated talking points to surrogates advising them to say the alleged incident with Reade “did not happen,” BuzzFeed reported on Tuesday.“It’s difficult for survivors ...

A NYC coronavirus patient died after inexperienced medical residents set her ventilator too high and it stopped her heart

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The incident happened at Montefiore hospital in the Bronx in March, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2VO1ilV via IFTTT

Satellite images reveal Kim Jong-un may be at luxury family villa

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New satellite images showing the recent movements of luxury boats by Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, have provided further indications that he may be ensconced in his seaside villa in Wonsan, on the country’s east coast. The location of the reclusive leader has been a mystery since his unprecedented no-show at April 15 events to mark the birthday of his late grandfather and North Korea’s founder, Kim Il Sung. His absence, for the first time since he took power in 2011, unleashed a torrent of speculation about his health conditions, with unverified and conflicting reports claiming he was both recuperating from cardiovascular surgery and in “grave danger.” On Tuesday, commercial satellite imagery obtained by North Korea-monitoring website NK PRO showed boats often used by Kim had made movements in patterns that suggested he or his entourage may be in the Wonsan area. “Extensive analysis shows that similar leisure boat movements at an exclusive villa in Wonsan and a nearby island ne...

Pompeo criticizes S.Africa, Qatar for taking Cuban doctors

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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday criticized South Africa and Qatar for accepting doctors from Cuba to battle the coronavirus, accusing the communist island of profiting from the pandemic. Cuba's globe-trotting doctors have long been a source of diplomatic soft power and pride for Havana, but Washington says the medical workers only benefit the government and has encouraged them to defect. "We've noticed how the regime in Havana has taken advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to continue its exploitation of Cuban medical workers," Pompeo told reporters. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/35fPzj7 via IFTTT

Most of U.S. House urges more diplomacy at U.N. to renew Iran arms embargo: sources

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Nearly 90% of U.S. House of Representatives members have signed a letter urging the Trump administration to increase its diplomatic action at the United Nations to renew an arms embargo on Iran, congressional sources said on Thursday. In a rare show of bipartisanship, at least 382 of the 429 members of the Democratic-controlled House - Democrats and Republicans - have signed the letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urging him to work with U.S. allies and partners to extend the embargo, as well as U.N. travel restrictions on Iranians involved with arms proliferation. "The U.N. arms embargo is set to expire in October, and we are concerned that the ban's expiration will lead to more states buying and selling weapons to and from Iran," said the letter, seen by Reuters and led by Representatives Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Mike McCaul, the committee's top Republican. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt...

80,000 cruise workers are still stuck aboard ships in US waters. Staff members say it's 'embarrassing' they're not allowed to disembark.

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Up to 80,000 crew members are stuck on 120 cruise ships on US waters, and it's unclear when they'll touch land again. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/35rWiqo via IFTTT

Roger Stone bought more than 200 fake Facebook accounts, which he used to run ads defending Roger Stone

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Stone, a longtime friend to Donald Trump, ran a sprawling network of fake Facebook accounts starting in 2016, according to newly unsealed FBI records. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2VQl2oN via IFTTT

30 Easy Side Dishes For Lasagna

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2zMm3WA via IFTTT

FDA reportedly plans to authorize emergency use of largely untested drug to treat coronavirus

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The Food and Drug Administration will authorize the emergency use of the antiviral remdesivir on COVID-19 patients as soon as Wednesday, a senior administration official told The New York Times. Pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences revealed promising study results involving remdesivir on Wednesday, but the FDA's reported move would still sidestep the usual testing required to authorize a drug's usage.Gilead said Wednesday that its own trial, as well one overseen by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, met its goals. Of the study's 397 severe COVID-19 patients, at least 50 percent of patients treated with a 5-day dosage of remdesivir improved and more than half were discharged from the hospital within two weeks. The overall mortality rate of the study was 7 percent, and relatively few patients developed bad side effects. But the study wasn't evaluated against a control group, and it's unclear if those recoveries were natural or if remdesivir a...

Trump begins day with Twitter meltdown over newly released Michael Flynn FBI note

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Donald Trump began his Thursday with a barrage of tweets defending Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser, after Mr Flynn’s attorneys released documents that they believe show the FBI tried to entrap him.A note, written in January 2017 by then-counterintelligence director Bill Priestap, ponders how to approach Mr Flynn’s questioning. “What’s our goal?” asks Mr Priestap. "Truth/Admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?" from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3f9S7DR via IFTTT

Satellite images of luxury boats further suggest North Korea's Kim at favoured villa: experts

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Satellite imagery showing recent movements of luxury boats often used by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his entourage near Wonsan provide further indications he has been at the coastal resort, according to experts who monitor the reclusive regime. Speculation about Kim's health and location erupted after his unprecedented absence from April 15 celebrations to mark the birthday of his late grandfather and North Korea's founder, Kim Il Sung. On Tuesday, North Korea-monitoring website NK PRO reported commercial satellite imagery showed boats often used by Kim had made movements in patterns that suggested he or his entourage may be in the Wonsan area. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3aTqV9m via IFTTT

Irrfan Khan: The Bollywood star loved by Hollywood

Irrfan Khan's biographer, Aseem Chhabra, writes about the life of one of Bollywood's biggest stars. from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/3eWGqQS

Coronavirus: Searching for truth behind Spain's care home tragedy

Families want to know why so many of their elderly relatives have died. from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2yZZBZt

Coronavirus: Japan's low testing rate raises questions

Japan's relatively low rate of virus testing raises questions about how it has tackled the pandemic. from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2KKoxXB

Training AI 'to translate mum's phone messages'

How African researchers are using the continent's languages to help spur innovation in Artificial Intelligence. from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2xkftpr

Staging a 'socially distanced' boxing match

Inside the Nicaraguan boxing event that caught the world's attention during the pandemic. from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/3d3ojqW

Coronavirus: Why the fashion industry faces an 'existential crisis'

"No-one wants to buy clothes to sit at home in," as Next's chief executive Simon Wolfson puts it. from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2Wc9YBC

Coronavirus: Why so many US nurses are out of work

At a time when many healthcare workers are risking their lives, some face pay cuts and job loss. from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2VMxYMs

How will airlines get flying again?

When passenger planes start flying again, the world of air travel will be very different. from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/3cXyT2s

Delivering Food Under Coronavirus

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By Unknown Author from NYT Home Page https://ift.tt/3f5HYYL

The Trump Administration’s Legal Moves to Prevent a Meat Shortage, Explained

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By BY CHARLIE SAVAGE from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2W43dl2

Trump Seeks Push to Speed Vaccine, Despite Safety Concerns

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By BY DAVID E. SANGER from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/3bQeDjg

Coronavirus R0: Is this the crucial number?

The number at the heart of the decision whether to lift lockdown. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/3cYqU5i

Will thermal cameras help to end the lockdown?

Thermal cameras can spot people with a temperature. Will they help to end the lockdown? from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/3f37YnQ

Coronavirus: Madrid's balcony cinema screens films for people in lockdown

People in Madrid can watch films from their balconies after the local council brought in huge screens. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2SioCGa

'We'll starve to death if this continues'

Half of the world's workers could lose their jobs because of Covid-19, we meet four who are struggling with lockdown. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2SmvouB

In pictures: Iranian embassy siege in London

Images from 40 years ago, when six gunmen took over the Iranian embassy in Kensington. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2zIAJ9c

An unlikely coronavirus hotspot in forgotten US corner

How poverty and economic inequality are threatening an entire generation of African Americans. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2xkt53T

Coronavirus: How does contact tracing work and is my data safe?

Millions in the UK will soon be asked to download an app that helps to limit coronavirus spreading. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2zIPOaN

Boris Johnson, Carrie Symonds, and a baby in a very exclusive club

Baby Johnson joins Leo Blair and Florence Cameron to become a member of a very exclusive club. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2Ymv031

Coronavirus: Searching for truth behind Spain's care home tragedy

Families want to know why so many of their elderly relatives have died. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2yZZBZt

Coronavirus: Japan's low testing rate raises questions

Japan's relatively low rate of virus testing raises questions about how it has tackled the pandemic. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2KKoxXB

How will airlines get flying again?

When passenger planes start flying again, the world of air travel will be very different. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/3cXyT2s

Coronavirus: Why the fashion industry faces an 'existential crisis'

"No-one wants to buy clothes to sit at home in," as Next's chief executive Simon Wolfson puts it. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2Wc9YBC

Corrections: April 29, 2020

By Unknown Author from NYT Corrections https://ift.tt/3f3HlyX

Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today

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By BY PATRICK J. LYONS from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2SgQMkW

How Teachers Are Fighting to Make Meaningful Connections With Students

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By Unknown Author from NYT Style https://ift.tt/35ePPih

Transgresora y tradicional: así es la reina del rap en quechua de Perú

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By BY JULIE TURKEWITZ from NYT en Español https://ift.tt/2VKKQTf

‘Governors Don’t Do Global Pandemics’: Cuomo Faults Others Over Virus

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By BY JESSE MCKINLEY from NYT New York https://ift.tt/3eUOBgJ

Trump Administration’s Message on Reopening Continues to Be Contradictory

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By BY PETER BAKER from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2WdGKT0

How to Defend a Dissertation Virtually

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By Unknown Author from NYT Style https://ift.tt/3eWyBuy

Cooperstown: Wait Till Next Year?

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By BY TYLER KEPNER from NYT Sports https://ift.tt/2VM5oeg

China Mounts Aggressive Defense to Calls for Coronavirus Compensation

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By BY DAMIEN CAVE AND AMY QIN from NYT World https://ift.tt/3aKNe0H

Tucker Carlson Beats Sean Hannity as Trump Briefings Give Fox News a Boost

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By BY MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM from NYT Business https://ift.tt/2KNH6dn

It’s Not Enough to ‘Get Back to Normal’

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By BY SUSAN E. RICE from NYT Opinion https://ift.tt/2VMHYFJ

Coronavirus: 98-year-old doctor working through the lockdown

France's oldest doctor continues to support patients during the pandemic, despite being at high risk of getting coronavirus. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/3eYNAEg

Refugee camp image wins food photo contest

An image of children at a Rohingya refugee camp wins Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year 2020. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/3cW7rC9

Coronavirus: Lockdown on a deserted Australian Island

How one Australian couple ended up isolated in paradise on Fraser Island. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2zEksSG

The trees that survived the bombing of Hiroshima

How a message of hope and peace is being spread by trees from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2Wa5I5k

Coronavirus: This is what reopening in US looks like

Barber shops, tattoo parlours, beaches and restaurants reopen in Georgia. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/3cUny3a

Coronavirus: 'My cafe's going bust before it's even opened'

A car factory worker turned cafe owner explains how coronavirus is affecting his business dream. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2VM1FNO

Coronavirus: Wild animals enjoy freedom of a quieter world

Lockdowns give parts of the natural world an opportunity to experience life with fewer humans around. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2xlF7Ku

'I wanted doors I could slam': Growing up in a see-through house

Shelley Klein lived in a modernist masterpiece - but envied her friends' more traditional homes. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2Wc7d30

Coronavirus: Two million Bangladesh jobs 'at risk' as clothes orders dry up

Half of the four million garment industry jobs in Bangladesh could be lost as orders dry up. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/35cMu3r

The Valentine's Day snake puzzle

Why were 29 snakes left in pillowcases in a Sunderland dustbin the day before and the day after Valentine's Day? from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2Wa5Hyi

India coronavirus: The man giving dignified burial to Covid-19 victims

Abdul Malabari has taken on the task of burying those who died with the virus in one Indian city. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/3aNV0a9

Coronavirus: Transgender people 'extremely vulnerable' during lockdown

Rights groups say coronavirus restrictions are leaving vulnerable trans people even more exposed. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2W8s4UX

Coronavirus: 'Thousands' of North Sea oil and gas jobs under threat

The UK's oil and gas industry says many firms will struggle to survive through the coronavirus crisis. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2yQAQik

Coronavirus: More than 2,000 prisoners may have been infected, says PHE

The number of infected prisoners could be six times higher than confirmed cases, health officials say. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2VHS22D

U.S. Governors Move Ahead With Reopening, Despite Health Worries

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By BY JACK HEALY, MANNY FERNANDEZ AND PETER BAKER from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/3eXCu2o

Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today

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By BY PATRICK J. LYONS from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/35hgbQL

Briefings Were ‘Not Worth the Time,’ Trump Said. But He Couldn’t Stay Away.

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By BY PETER BAKER from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/3eZndxS

The State of the States Is Dire

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By BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD from NYT Opinion https://ift.tt/2VHLFwf

In Kayleigh McEnany, Trump Taps a Press Fighter for the Coronavirus Era

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By BY ELIZABETH WILLIAMSON from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/3eYg8xO

Trump 'can't imagine why' US disinfectant calls spiked

The president says he takes no responsibility for a reported spike in calls to emergency hotlines. from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/3bNyhwc

Coronavirus: Argentina bans commercial flight sales until 1 September

Aviation industry groups warn that the move puts at risk more than 300,000 jobs in the country. from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2xdPPmd

Coronavirus: One big weekly shop back in fashion, says Tesco

Supermarket boss Dave Lewis says shopping trips are less frequent but basket sizes have doubled. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2xi2DIi

Coronavirus: Councils vying for emergency virus cash

County councils say care funding must be a priority while district councils say services are at risk. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2YaNhAo

Coronavirus: Hardship payment for dairy farmers considered

The virus outbreak has led to problems for the dairy industry, with warnings that cows could be slaughtered. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2zBMPRr

Ethereal image of Cosmos flowers wins photo competition

A photo of Cosmos flowers wins the International Garden Photographer of the Year's Black & White photo project. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/3eXuK0k

Coronavirus: Families foster pets during outbreak

As animal shelters are forced to limit operations, many people have applied to temporarily rehome a pet. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/3cS6WZP

Coronavirus: What Trump voters think of his handling of crisis

'Dumbfounded' or 'great job' - Americans who backed the president in 2016 rate his pandemic response. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2SeVe3B

Coronavirus: Florida pastor continues in-person services

Pastor Rich Vera is among a minority in America who say it’s appropriate to gather to worship. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2YaMbEx

Coronavirus immunity: Can you catch it twice?

Immunity is the crucial question and understanding it will tell us how the pandemic will end. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/3cTP4h8

The Uber driver evicted from home and left to die of coronavirus

Rajesh Jayaseelan found himself homeless and sick in London with Covid-19. His widow tells his story. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/3eVHioN

TV in lockdown: How shows are coping without a studio audience

Some TV shows are struggling without a crowd - but others have arguably improved. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/3cO2yuM

Coronavirus: Why are people still flying into the UK? And other questions

Why is it still possible to fly into the UK during the coronavirus lockdown, and other questions answered by BBC experts. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2sLbMXA

Coronavirus doctor's diary: 'We aren't diagnosing many cancers now'

Planned surgery has been cancelled across the NHS - there may be some big changes when it resumes. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2y452Xl

Coronavirus: 'I returned my suits and spent £100 on loungewear’

Demand for casual clothing is soaring during the lockdown, but is the UK at risk of dressing down too much? from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2W2QKhD

Stressed firms look for better ways to source products

The way firms get their raw materials may change rapidly now Covid-19 has disrupted supply chains. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2YadZsT

Coronavirus: The people inspired into making a difference

The BBC spoke to people inspired by Capt Tom's effort help the NHS by walking lengths of his garden. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/359NNQI

Coronavirus: Should maternity and paternity leave be extended?

A petition calling for maternity leave to be extended due to coronavirus has attracted many signatures. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/356jiuK

Coronavirus: The US resistance to a continued lockdown

The protesters have made global headlines but it's ideology not economics driving them. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/3cSSiBQ

Jack Ma: The billionaire trying to stop coronavirus (and fix China's reputation)

How Jack Ma's growing clout during the coronavirus crisis may put him in the sights of China's jealous leaders. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2VBL670

Coronavirus: Is it too early to expand our 'social bubbles'?

New Zealand is relaxing some social distancing measures, but is it safe for other nations? from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2W0m9kP

Coronavirus: A visual guide to the economic impact

Key maps and charts explain how the virus has impacted markets and businesses around the world. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/32LO6zX

'He said it was the stupidest idea he had ever seen'

How Abigail Forsyth set up and grew the popular reusable cup business, KeepCup. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2Y9a4fY

'I feel like I don't count,' says man with MND

The government's advice on shielding is failing people with motor neurone disease, according to a charity. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2S4GLr1

Gruffalo artist Axel Sheffler: 'This was something I could do to help'

Axel Sheffler has rushed to publish a book which explains the coronavirus pandemic to children. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2zyWAjh

In Albania, Ramadan under lockdown revives memories of communism

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Stuck in their Tirana flat under a coronavirus lockdown, 81-year-old Osman Hoxha and his family quietly mark the start of Ramadan, recalling the communist era when practicing religion meant risking death. Like many parts of the world, mosques in Muslim-majority Albania are eerily empty while iftar supper tables have fewer chairs than normal as families shelter at home to curb the spread of the virus. For older generations, the intimate settings inevitably stir up memories of how they were forced to furtively keep their faith alive under the long and brutal reign of the late communist dictator Enver Hoxha, who outlawed religion. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2Y2EIay via IFTTT

Saudi Arabia bans flogging as a punishment after human rights activist dies in detention

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Saudi Arabia has abolished flogging as a punishment, the state human rights commission said on Saturday hailing a "major step forward" in the reform programme launched by the king and his powerful son, days after a human rights activist died in custody. Court-ordered floggings in Saudi Arabia - sometimes extending to hundreds of lashes - have long drawn condemnation from human rights groups. But they say the headline legal reforms overseen by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have brought no let-up in the conservative Islamic kingdom's crushing of dissent, including through the use of the death penalty. The state human rights commission said that the latest reform, which was reported by Saudi media including the pro-government Okaz newspaper, would ensure that no more convicts were sentenced to flogging. "This decision guarantees that convicts who would previously have been sentenced to the lash will from now on receive fines or prison terms instead," its chairma...

Nearly 150 total coronavirus cases confirmed on cruise ship in Japan

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Nearly 150 cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed among crew members of an Italian cruise ship docked in Japan after health authorities finished testing everyone on board, an official said on Saturday. The Nagasaki prefecture official said 57 more crew had tested positive, bringing the total infections on board the Costa Atlantica to 148, roughly one quarter of the vessel's 623 crew members. Authorities began testing after one crew member tested positive for the virus earlier this week. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3cNpyKq via IFTTT

Trump Tweets That Virus Briefings Maybe ‘Not Worth the Time’

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(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump has been determined to talk his way through the coronavirus crisis, but frequent misstatements at his daily news conferences have caused a litany of public health and political headaches for the White House.On Friday, Trump sought to clean up his briefing room riff from the day before about the possibility of fighting coronavirus infection in patients with chemical disinfectant or sunlight -- a dangerous idea that doctors and a manufacturer of cleaning products felt obliged to publicly warn against.By Saturday, Trump suggested the briefings, which have become a televised daily substitute for his campaign rallies, were “not worth the time and effort,” a day after a report that he plans to scale back such appearances. Trump on Friday said he had “sarcastically” suggested Americans be injected with disinfectant. The president’s new spokeswoman also sought to clarify his remarks.“President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with me...

California heat wave draws large crowds to beaches despite stay-at-home order

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"We've had very good compliance," a lifeguard said. "People are spreading out." from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3bDfQtX via IFTTT

Lebanon bank attacked with explosive amid economic crisis

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Assailants lobbed an explosive device at a bank in Lebanon Saturday, in the latest attack on financial institutions in a country facing its worst economic crisis in decades. The official National News Agency said the night-time assault targeted a branch of Fransabank in the southern port city of Sidon, damaging its glass facade. The attack came a day after Prime Minister Hassan Diab said Lebanese bank deposits had plunged $5.7 billion in the first two months of the year, despite curbs on withdrawals and a ban on transfers abroad. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2VVGHuU via IFTTT

French coronavirus deaths reach 22,856 as government eyes how to ease lockdown

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The death toll in France from the coronavirus has risen by 242 to 22,856, the health ministry said on Sunday, as the government prepares to see how it might ease a national lockdown that has been in place since mid-March. While the number of deaths from the virus has risen, the rate at which the casualties have mounted has steadily fallen over the last two weeks, emboldening those who want France to start to lift the lockdown measures. The numbers of people leaving intensive care units (ICUs) has also outpaced the numbers of those entering those units. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3cOg7uj via IFTTT

Europe’s Virus Deaths Slow While U.K. Fatalities Pass 20,000

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(Bloomberg) -- Coronavirus deaths slowed in key European countries, though an increase in the U.K. underscored the risks facing the region’s leaders as they plan to relax lockdown measures.Italy counted the fewest deaths in almost six weeks on Saturday and France reported the smallest daily increase since March 29. Spain announced less than 400 fatalities for the second day in row, and deaths in Germany dropped to the lowest in five days.By contrast, the U.K. became the fifth country with more than 20,000 casualties from the virus as the death toll rose by 813 in the latest 24-hour period.“The sun might be shining, but the virus hasn’t gone away,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office said in a Twitter post. “Stop the spread, stay home.”With Europe’s economies battered by lockdowns imposed to bring the epidemic under control, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday that her country will boost funding to the European Union to mitigate the economic fallout. She also called on th...

Louisiana pastor, while on house arrest, again defies coronavirus order with church service

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The Life Tabernacle Church pastor has admitted to violating Louisiana's mandate to avoid large gatherings by hosting hundreds of worshipers. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2Y6bKGV via IFTTT

Asian-Americans seek to deter hateful attacks amid pandemic

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As the coronavirus first seen in China now ravages the U.S., Asian-Americans are wrestling with a second epidemic: hate. Hundreds of attacks on Asian people have been reported, with few signs of decline. Many are filming their interactions or carrying guns. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2VCjeQc via IFTTT

Coronavirus: The different approaches to lockdowns in Africa

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Countries have taken different routes in imposing restrictions - which ones are working against the virus? from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2VCG76b via IFTTT

White House medic Deborah Birx said coronavirus deaths will 'dramatically' decrease by the end of May, but social distancing will go on for much longer

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The White House coronavirus task force gave a rough timeline for how the pandemic will play out in the US. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2KD3k1Y via IFTTT

Mexico returns Central Americans, empties migrant centers

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Italy to reopen factories in staged end to coronavirus lockdown

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Italy will allow factories and building sites to reopen from May 4 and permit limited family visits as it prepares a staged end to Europe's longest coronavirus lockdown, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Sunday. More than two months after the first case of COVID-19 appeared in a small town outside Milan and following weeks of lockdown, Italy is looking ahead to a second phase of the crisis in which it will attempt to restart the economy without triggering a new wave of infections. "We expect a very complex challenge," Conte said as he outlined the road map to restarting activities put into hibernation since early March. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3eRuwYz via IFTTT

Trump claims his dangerous disinfectant claims were meant 'sarcastically', as US coronavirus death toll passes 50,000

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After promoting the idea that both sunlight and injecting disinfectant could help tackle Covid-19, Donald Trump claimed his comments were sarcastic."I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters ... to see what would happen," the president said on Friday as he signed another coronavirus relief bill into law. He had faced a torrent of ridicule for his comments, which were directed at doctors on his coronavirus taskforce, not at reporters. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3cDuTUC via IFTTT

Iraqi on genocide charges in Germany for IS killing of child

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An Iraqi man went on trial in Frankfurt on Friday for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, on allegations that as an Islamic State member he was part of an effort to exterminate the Yazidi religious minority, and killed a five-year-old girl he purchased as a slave by chaining her in the hot sun to die of thirst. Taha Al-J., 27, whose full last name wasn’t given in line with German privacy laws, faces a possible life in prison if convicted of the charges, and others including murder for the death of the Yazidi girl and membership in a terrorist organization. Al-J.’s wife, a German convert to Islam identified only as 28-year-old Jennifer W., has been on trial separately in Munich since last April on charges of murder, war crimes and membership in a terrorist organization. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/352NEy6 via IFTTT

'When He Gets New Information, He Likes To Talk That Through Out Loud,' Dr. Birx Says of Trump's Comments on Ultraviolet Light, Disinfectants as COVID-19 Treatments

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Dr. Deborah Birx defends Trump's comments on ultraviolet light, injecting disinfectants as coronavirus treatments from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3eRBiO0 via IFTTT