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Apple is taking a firm stance against coronavirus applications that aren’t from “recognized institutions,” a new report from CNBC says. According to the report, Apple is trying to prevent the spread of misinformation with this policy. For the report, CNBC spoke to four independent developers who had applications related to coronavirus rejected from the App Store. The applications in question “would allow people to see stats about which countries have confirmed cases” of coronavirus, the report says. Some of the applications used data from sources like the World Health Organization. Why is Apple rejecting these apps? The company reportedly told one developer over the phone that anything related to coronavirus must be released by an official health organization or government. A separate developer got a written response from Apple saying that “apps with information about current medical information need to be submitted by a recognized institution.” Citing a person familiar with the matter, the report adds that Apple is looking at where the data in the apps comes from as well as the developers: Apple has been specifically evaluating coronavirus apps to prevent the spread of misinformation. It looks at both where the health data comes from and whether the developers represent organizations that users can trust to publish accurate data, like governments or health-focused organizations, according to a person familiar with the matter. As such, a search for coronavirus in the App Store on iOS reveals few results, including one app published by the Brazilian government. If Apple’s goal is to prevent misinformation, critics might argue that applications using data from organizations like WHO would help people be more aware of the ongoing situation. Apple yesterday revised its App Store guidelines, indcluding one change that specifically relates to this situation: An updated policy published by Apple on Wednesday has a new item, 5.1.1.ix, which is close to what developers said they were told. Apps in “highly-regulated” fields like healthcare, financial services, or air travel need to be submitted by a “legal entity that provides the services, and not by an individual developer.” Google has taken a similar stance for Android applications in Google Play, as our sister site 9to5Google reported earlier this week. Apple seems to be doing a decent job rejecting health advice apps not published by official institutions, but there is deffo keyword spam going on. Plenty of random games show up when you search for “coronavirus”. pic.twitter.com/MD9dqEg4u6 — Benjamin Mayo (@bzamayo) March 5, 2020 FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More. Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:

Update: According to Apple, the problem has already been solved. The Apple Support account on Twitter suggests that users who are still experiencing the issue should restart the devices. Apple’s System Status webpage indicates today that some users may experience problems with the App Store. The company says that App Store users “are experiencing a problem with this service,” and that they are “investigating this issue.” According to developers, it’s not currently possible to successfully get in-app purchases. Fortnite’s official Twitter profile revealed that the in-game store has been temporarily deactivated to avoid further problems for users. Christian Selig, developer of the Apollo for Reddit app, also reported problems with Apple’s services. Apple generally uses a yellow blob to indicate “issues” with a service, even when it is a severe one impacting many customers. The page is not always the most reliable source of details when it comes to downtime for Apple’s services, but it does show that Apple is aware of the problems many users are facing this morning. The App Store issue does not seem to have affected other services like Apple Music and iCloud. We’ll update this article when the problem has been solved. Did you have any problems with the App Store today? Let us know in the comments below. We have disabled the Store on iOS devices due to purchases on the App Store not being completed. — Fortnite Status (@FortniteStatus) January 24, 2020 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More. Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:

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Jewellery designer Laura Lambert has revealed she's called off her Paris wedding reception in light of coronavirus. Laura, 29, was due to celebrate her big day at the Hotel Sully in Paris in June, but has been forced to cancel following the outbreak across Europe. Laura, who owns luxury engagement ring brand Fenton & Co, told Femail that she's had to email her 150 guests to inform them of her plans to postpone the wedding. But the bride-to-be is trying to stay positive, and said: 'To be honest, I haven't been that upset so far, there's so much else going on. 'I think I’m really going to feel it on the actual day. I’ll be more upset if we have had to cancel our civil wedding which looks looks likely’ Laura Lambert, 29, has revealed how she has cancelled her June wedding in Paris amidst the coronavirus outbreak ‘Having my own business I feel for all the suppliers who are going to be hit hard by people cancelling so I am looking at an arrangement to postpone that works for everyone.' 'It's not the time to be focused on myself or acting like a bride, We have to act like citizens and look after our friends all over the world.You have to look at the silver lining, at least I get to be bridezilla for an extra year’ Laura, who planned to get married in a one-off Fenton & Co tiara with sapphires and diamonds and a wedding dress by designer Luisa Beccaria, felt forced to cancel when she saw how bad the outbreak had become across the continent. She revealed the moment she knew that she had to make a decision was when officials started talking about a months-long lockdown. The bespoke silk scarf invitations which announced Laura's dream wedding has already been sent, and her dream venue, Hotel Sully, situated in the fabulous Marais district of Paris, had been booked. Laura has decided to postpone the big day for a year, and said that she felt 'immensely relieved' once she'd made the decision Growing concerned, she phoned friends and family to gauge how they would feel about postponing the day, including best friend and daughter of MP Amber Rudd, Flora Gill. She revealed that 'talking it through' bought her immense relief, and that her close family 'thanked' her for postponing. She revealed: 'They thanked me for cancelling and said, "Obviously we love you and would have travelled anywhere to see you get married, but everyone is so worried about what is going on". Laura also spoke through options with close friend and wedding dress designer Luisa Beccaria, who created Lady Gabriella Windsor's gown for her ceremony at Windsor Castle last year. The designer, who is currently in lock down in Milan, was 'so stoic' about the precautions. Laura insisted she has tried to remain stoic and positive throughout the nightmare scenario

Quarantine measures introduced in Europe to contain the spread of the new coronavirus appears to have reduced pollution in some of its major cities. The European Space Agency (ESA) said on Friday, based on images captured by one of its satellites. “The new images clearly illustrate a strong reduction of nitrogen dioxide concentrations over major cities across Europe specifically Milan, Paris and Madrid,’’ the agency said in a statement. READ ALSO: Otedola Donates N1bn To Help Fight Against Coronavirus Pandemic The drop coincides with lockdowns and other restrictive measures implemented in Europe in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The nitrogen dioxide concentrations were measured between March 14 and Wednesday. “Scientists are now working on a more detailed analysis to interpret the concentrations observed, in order to estimate the influence of the shutdown measures,’’ ESA said. READ ALSO:COVID-19: Pastor Adeboye Donates ICU Beds, Ventilators To Lagos, Others Movements of people, including by car and aeroplane, have been restricted in response to the outbreak. The preventive measures have also affected many businesses, leading them to curtail or even halt their operations.

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Mr Scindia left the Congress, his party of 18 years, on Tuesday (File) Jyotiraditya Scindia is among the two candidates named by the BJP for the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh. The announcement followed moments after the 49-year-old four-time Lok Sabha MP joined the BJP. Mr Scindia left the Congress, his party of 18 years, on Tuesday. One of the reasons for his switch was said to be the promise of a Rajya Sabha nomination by the BJP, something that had proved to be a tough ask for him in the Congress. Elections will be held for three Rajya Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh on March 26. In this, with the votes of first preference, the Congress and BJP are fixed as one seat each and the fight is on for the third seat. According to sources, the Congress refused to give Mr Scindia a first preference seat that would secure his nomination. Mr Scindia, a key Madhya Pradesh leader considered instrumental in the Congress's victory in the state election in December 2018, had to step back as Kamal Nath was made Chief Minister. Over the past year, Mr Scindia, who also lost last year's parliamentary election, felt slighted and undermined in the Congress. Sources say a Rajya Sabha nomination for him was strongly opposed by Kamal Nath. By the time he came around, Mr Scindia's talks with the BJP leadership, especially Amit Shah, had gone far. The BJP sensed an opportunity to pull in Mr Scindia when he was denied a Rajya Sabha seat by the Congress six months ago, according to sources. That was the time he received the first feelers from the BJP. There were several secret meetings over the next few months, according to sources. Mr Scindia was 31 when he was first elected to parliament from Guna in Madhya Pradesh in 2002, as he won a by-election held following his father Madhavrao Scindia's death. He subsequently served as union minister in different Congress governments. "Scindia could have been Congress nominee to Rajya Sabha but only Modi-Shah can give cabinet post to the over-ambitious leader," said Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, one of Mr Scindia's rivals.

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday lashed out at former party colleague Jyotiraditya Scindia, who joined the BJP on Wednesday, saying that he got worried about his political future and ‘abandoned’ his ideology.Also Read - 'Only Person in Congress Who Could Walk Into my House Anytime,' Says Rahul Gandhi on Jyotiraditya Scindia Notably, Jyotiraditya Scindia, a former four-term Lok Sabha MP as well as a former Union Minister, on Tuesday brought to an end his 18-year-long association with the Congress. Also Read - 'While You Were Busy Destabilising Govt': Rahul Gandhi Breaks Silence, Attacks PM Modi For Madhya Pradesh Muddle Speaking on the issue, Rahul said that Scindia joining the BJP was a ‘fight’ between two ideologies, with Congress being on one side and the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS)-the BJP’s ideological mentor-on the other. “I know Jyotiraditya’s ideology as he was with me in college. He got worried about his political future, abandoned his ideology and went with the RSS,” said Rahul Gandhi. Also Read - When Jyotiraditya Prompted Rahul Gandhi What to Say: Video And Memes Go Viral After Scindia's Exit Rahul Gandhi, Congress: This is a fight of ideology, on one side is Congress & BJP-RSS on the other. I know Jyotiraditya Scindia's ideology, he was with me in college, I know him well. He got worried about his political future, abandoned his ideology and went with RSS. pic.twitter.com/VUD9SgPn1m — ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2020 He further said that having been Scindia’s friend for a long time, he knew that Scindia won’t get respect in the BJP and will realise this later. “What is in his heart and what is coming out of his mouth is different,” said the Congress Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad. On being questioned why he is not sending his ‘core team members’ to the Rajya Sabha, he said that since he is not the Congress president anymore, he was not deciding on the party’s Rajya Sabha nominees. Rahul Gandhi on being asked why he's not sending his core team members to Rajya Sabha: I'm not Congress President, I'm not taking decisions on RS nominees. I am informing the youth of the country about the economy. Who is in my team, who is not in my team is of no consequence. pic.twitter.com/BMOueCCGnM — ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2020 Not being given a ticket to the Rajya Sabha is reported to be one of the reasons that led to Jyotiraditya Scindia jumping ship to the BJP.

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Having endured repeated bouts of disastrous wildfires, Californians are all too aware of the immediate threat of human-caused climate change. Watching our neighborhoods and wild places burn is a somber warning of the further destruction that will occur if we stay on our current course. Unless we stop developing the fossil fuels that are driving the climate crisis, we will ensure that the fires and other disasters that threaten our communities become even more common and more severe. Yet in the face of these disasters here and around the world, the Trump administration is rushing to auction off as much of America’s public lands as possible for oil and gas drilling, including in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, where they plan to hold a lease sale in the coming months. At a time when we need to be moving away from fossil fuels, we cannot be complicit in this administration’s plans to spoil one of America’s last wild places for the sake of expanded development of polluting oil and gas. For that reason, I’m glad to see the cities of Oakland, San Francisco, and Berkeley — with the support of leaders like San Francisco Supervisors Norman Yee, Aaron Peskin and Hillary Ronen, Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín and Berkeley Council Member Sophie Hahn, and Oakland Council Member Rebecca Kaplan — reaffirm their support of resolutions that ensure they will not do business with any company that seeks to drill in the Arctic Refuge. These resolutions reflect the opinion of the American public, which overwhelmingly and across party lines opposes drilling in the Arctic Refuge. In fact, the only way drilling advocates in Congress were able to undo decades of protections for this place was by tacking on an unrelated provision to the 2017 tax bill opening up the refuge’s coastal plain for oil drilling. As if the threat to our global climate were not bad enough, drilling in the Arctic Refuge would also violate the human rights of the Gwich’in people, who have relied on the land and wildlife there for their survival and way of life for thousands of years. The Gwich’in, who refer to the coastal plain as “the sacred place where life begins,” depend on the caribou herd that migrates through the coastal plain for 80% of their diet. Any disturbance to this ecosystem would pose an existential threat to this community. Put simply, drilling in the Arctic Refuge is a terrible idea. It would threaten Indigenous rights, industrialize one of America’s last wild places, and exacerbate climate change. Any company foolish enough to ignore these risks is not one we want to be associated with. The Arctic may be far away, but we only have to look as far as the fires raging in our own backyard to know that what happens there can be felt right here in the Bay Area. We should be leading the way to a clean energy future. Our tax dollars should not support a toxic investment in the dirty fuels of the past. Minda Berbeco is director of the Sierra Club San Francisco Bay Chapter.

Author Says 'Mixed Solutions Can Feel Like A Cop-Out' But May Solve Housing Inequity Golden Gates Fighting for Housing in America by Conor Dougherty Hardcover, 384 pages | purchase close overlay Buy Featured Book Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How? America's housing crisis isn't new — and its ongoing issues have grown really old. Non-wealthy people living in major American metro areas, particularly on the coasts, continue to feel the weight of ever-rising rents and home prices long after they first ceased to be affordable. And that weight is usually compounded with other struggles, like paying student debt, keeping health insurance or simply finding the money for basic necessities. The housing crisis is driven by many factors, like supply shortage, zoning restrictions, NIMBYism (the not in my backyard argument), structural racism, gentrification, and private wealth interest. So, given all that, how do you make housing sustainable and attainable? No matter which way you look, the housing crisis confounds simple solutions. Reading Conor Dougherty's informative, evenly paced, but often too locally focused Golden Gates: Fighting for Housing in America, I waited for solutions. I thought that Dougherty, an economics reporter for The New York Times, might point the way forward — something that has eluded activists and politicians alike for decades. But I quickly realized it wasn't going to be that easy. Dougherty, like many good reporters, doesn't traffic radical solutions or broad panaceas, but instead tells the story of housing in all its complexity. And, with it, he tells the story of people who have fought pyrrhic battles for the dignity of a roof over their heads. Golden Gates uses San Francisco specifically, and the Bay Area generally, to focus the issue of housing inequity. And while it expertly lays out the structural problems precluding affordable housing, the book's very local focus makes it seem too much about just the housing tragedy of the Bay Area. It faintly acts as an allegory of the national housing crisis — but you have to remind yourself continually that this is the case. It often evokes nostalgia, as if a love letter to a bygone Bay Area now struggling to keep its soul amidst the torrents of tech money relentlessly raining down on it. The book's real strength is in the stories Dougherty tells of various activists, politicians and residents in their fight for fair housing. The primary story in the book is that of Sonja Trauss, a former graduate student who early becomes dedicated to the cause of affordable housing and remains indefatigable in the cause. She organizes and speaks — and even runs for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Along the way, she meets head-on the hard realities and competing forces of developers, business and local government that make housing such a hard problem to tackle. Yet maybe the most perfect distillation of the complexity of housing in the book is the political career of California State Sen. Scott Wiener. "Come campaign time," Dougherty relates, "Scott Wiener was either San Francisco's most outspoken proponent of more housing or the city's biggest developer shill, depending on who was talking." And he tried to prove himself worthy of the issues at hand. Wiener "frequently tried to remind people that even though he was in favor of making it easier to build market-rate housing, he also supported rent control, had done more than most to make it easier to build subsidized housing, and voted yes on pretty much every affordable housing tax." To many San Franciscans, however, he'd never be a credible voice against market forces and their civic accomplices pricing them out of their city. Even if metro areas suddenly and dramatically expanded housing construction, they're going to be catching up for awhile after decades of supply shortage. So one of the best possible mitigations is an expansion of Section 8 rental vouchers beyond the fortunate few among poorer renters who already have them. According to Dougherty, the federal government already subsidizes homeownership up to about $70 billion per year through tax breaks, whether it's offset in the federal budget or not. Meanwhile, Congress allocates only about $20 billion per year to Section 8 vouchers, which he points out "have been shown to be highly effective at reducing homelessness, and cost far less than the morally repugnant alternative of letting people live in tents and rot on sidewalks, consuming police resources and using the emergency room as a public hospital." He concludes: "The message of this dichotomy...is that America is willing to subsidize as much debt as homeowners can gorge themselves on but that poor renters, the majority of whom live in market-rate apartments, are a penny-ante side issue unworthy of being prioritized." Thinking big picture, Dougherty reflects on practical solutions with moral intent and community-mindedness: "Mixed solutions can feel like a cop-out, especially in polarized times. And yet, over and over, in city after city, it's always where people end up and what seems most likely to work. There's no way to rectify a housing shortage other than to build housing, and there's no way to take care of people whom the private market won't take care of other than subsidies or rent control, or both. The details are democracy." It's important to point out this isn't a both-sides equivocation, a capitulation to the status quo. Rather, it's an acknowledgment that imperfect solutions are often the only solutions especially, it seems, in housing. Nicholas Cannariato is a writer and editor based in Chicago.

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The Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN) at the second edition of its Business Network Breakfast Series (IBNBS) invited experts to explore how Nigeria can benefit from the African Continental Trade Agreement. Fifty-four African countries recently ratified a continental trade treaty that will create an estimated $3.4 trillion market opportunity. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is built on a trade treaty that promises to liberalise trade among African countries and create a single market for goods and services on the continent. The treaty is expected to raise Africa’s nominal gross domestic product (GDP) to $6.7 trillion by 2030 and liberalise 90 percent of products manufactured in Africa. For Nigeria, given its sheer market size, foreign direct investments will increase because of companies that will want to set up factories in the country. This will also lead to technology transfer. However, experts have raised concerns over Nigeria’s preparedness to reap the benefits arising from the trade agreement without making the economy a dumping ground for sub-standard products. To attain this, Africa’s biggest economy needs a robust quality assurance infrastructure to test products meant for export and those being imported from other countries into Nigeria. “Quality assurance for made in Nigeria goods is critical if the country is to profitably participate in the continental trade agreement. As a country, we need to take our membership of the African Organisation of Standardisation (ARSO) seriously by ensuring strict compliance assessment standards. Quality sells,” said Osita Aboloma, director-general, the Standard Organisation Nigeria (SON), represented by Mojisola Kehinde, director, Laboratory Services at the SON. The AfCFTA officially came into force on 30th May 2019 when the required number of ratifications – 22 – were obtained, making the agreement a binding international legal instrument. Negotiations are, however, on-going. After months of consultation and dilly-dallying, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari signed the AfCFTA in July 2019, seeking fair trade for Nigeria. “This is a most auspicious time to organise our business breakfast network on this theme given that most companies are having strategy sessions now to plan for the year. We intend our deliberation today on this continent-wide trade agreement to help companies better position themselves to take advantage by showing the role of conformity assessments and calibration in the quality of goods,” Aliyu Abdullahi Angara, registrar and the chief executive officer of IPAN said. To achieve accurate laboratory testing of products, experts say laboratories must have the necessary equipment to undertake the test it is required to carry out. Personnel must have adequate skills and competencies and laboratory equipment must be calibrated regularly. Laboratories are also encouraged to undertake inter-laboratory tests and proficiency testing. “Nigeria’s micro, small and medium enterprises need access to single-digit credit facilities, infrastructure and an easier environment to do business if they are to compete favourably. The MSMEs have really been orphans,” Adebayo Olu-Adams, chairman Lagos chapter of the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) told BusinessDay in an exclusive interview.

The African Continental Free Trade Area will test the capacity for African leadership to build consensus in translating policy to practice, according to Dr Njeri Mwagiru, senior Futurist for Africa at the Institute for Futures Research. The Institute for Futures (IFR) is a strategic foresight and advisory institute of Stellenbosch University. While the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTFA) is geared to lower the costs and enhance the ease of doing business in Africa - the issue of migration, borders and customs will demand delicate negotiation and resolution, says Mwagiru. "At social levels, while the slogan of one Africa is catching within the political economy, at community level issues of xenophobia, ethnic rivalry and anti-migrant sentiments continue to be rife. "Social animosity tends to intersect with economic relations, and competitive rivalry between groups can hamper economic integration, with defensive stances interfering with conducive business interactions," she says. That is why she feels the narrative of cooperation implied in AfCFTA will require deeper rooting within diverse social and economic relations. Furthermore, other critical limiting aspects, are the gaps in continental infrastructure - a key cornerstone of fluid systems of trade, according to Mwagiru. Fin24 previously reported that the agreement to implement AfCFTA was only reached in July 2019, following Nigeria's decision to join. If it is fully implemented, 90% of tariffs should be be eliminated in five years. There could be a delay of up to 10 years for least-developed countries. Intra-African trade accounts for only 18% of total African trade. The UN Economic Commission for Africa estimates that AfCFTA's implementation could double intra-African trade by 2030. Tariffs not the only barrier to African Continental Free Trade Agreement - expert Delegates at the World Economic Forum on Africa in September 2019 also heard that, when it comes to successfully implementing a free trade plan across Africa, it will take more than just having heads of state sign an agreement. The first commitments to the agreement were already made by some African countries in March of 2018. At the time President Cyril Ramaphosa said the free trade plan would preset an opportunity to generate growth through trade. "The potential for businesses, economies and societies to benefit from this emerging policy environment is exciting, and equally, the challenges remain stark," says Mwagiru. "The road to combined prosperity heralded by this historical agreement, is riddled with policy potholes, probable political diversions, and operational blind spots that may present notable risks for the journey towards economic integration." That is why she regards the AfCFTA as an ambitious initiative to unite African economic potential on a joint path towards prosperity, since the aim is to consolidate a market of over 1 billion people, across 55 African states, with a combined GDP of over US$2 tr. "The next steps will involve among others, building the policy implementation frameworks, and institutionalising the norms, procedures, and rules of the continental free trade area," says Mwagiru. "In loosening historical shackles that have tied African economies to benefitting imperialist relations, the AfCFTA is a commendable commitment of African states to boost intra-continental trade and African market growth." Unprecedented challenges to global trade, freight conference hears At the same time, she points out that the wide spectrum of economic performance levels across African states is a further challenge on the free trade road, "with hints that more mature economies will have an advantage over those that are small and less diversified". "The mapped road is riddled with challenges and is not straightforward or smooth. The unfolding steps will reveal whether opportunity can be translated into shared prosperity," says Mwagiru. *

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DA accused of being soft on members embroiled in alleged corrupt dealings A forensic probe found that DA councillor Shadow Shabangu received R1.2 million from Blue Crane Eco Mall. Johannesburg - Despite criminal charges laid against a DA councillor for allegedly accepting bribes worth R1.2million, the party has only fined him - drawing allegations that it is soft on corruption. The speaker's office in the City of Ekurhuleni confirmed that it had opened a case against DA councillor Shadow Shabangu after he was found by a council-commissioned forensic investigation to have received R1.2million from Blue Crane Eco Mall. The company built the Springs Mall which opened in March 2017. “In 2016, although Shabangu disclosed that he had earned R1.2m through consulting services, he did not disclose that these earnings were from a company that was developing a mall within Ekurhuleni and, indeed, within his jurisdiction,” read the forensic report. Shabangu was also embroiled in the alleged sexual harassment of a female DA councillor. Last week, Sphelele Nxele, spokesperson for council Speaker Patricia Kumalo, said a council meeting held in October had adopted the forensic report and made recommendations thereto, including criminal charges. “Council recommended that the speaker opens a case, which she subsequently opened with the SAPS in Germiston in October. “The process is therefore in the hands of law enforcement and council cannot dictate SAPS’s internal processes,” Nxele added. The Star sent questions to Shabangu as well as DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille. Responding on their behalf, DA spokesperson Solly Malatsi said the party had acted on the damning allegations against Shabangu. “As a party of due process and which respects the rule of law, the party rightfully initiated investigations when both separate allegations were reported. “With regards to the first set of allegations (on bribes), the party’s investigation found Mr Shabangu guilty for bringing the party into disrepute and was issued the sanction of a fine,” Malatsi said, without revealing how much the fine was. On the sexual harassment allegations, Malatsi said: “The investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment found that there was insufficient evidence to support the claims. In both instances, the party initiated investigations, did so thoroughly and made reasonable findings based on the evidence available. "As a party we take sexual harassment seriously to the extent that up until recently we were the only political party with a sexual harassment policy.” However, a DA insider said Shabangu had a hold over the party because it expelled Joburg councillor Anthony Still for not towing the line in collapsing the city’s agenda and ensuring there was always a quorum to advance service delivery. Still had repeatedly defied the DA in Joburg by not walking out in order to allegedly disrupt the now ANC-governed City. “For me, I’m just disturbed by the fact that the DA is keeping Shabangu in a front-facing position as ward councillor, despite knowing he accepts bribes,” said the insider, who asked to remain anonymous. The Star

Union warns of mass action over Telkom job losses Picture: Lalinka Mahote/African News Agency (ANA) Johannesburg - The Communication Workers Union has called on the ANC and the government to step in as Telkom plans to retrench more than 3000 workers. Last week, Telkom sent out Section 189 notices to its employees as it announced it was planning to restructure its business. In a statement, CWU general secretary Aubrey Tshabalala dismissed the company’s claim that market conditions, regulatory uncertainty and the competitive environment had made it difficult for the company to thrive. Tshabalala accused Telkom chief executive Sipho Maseko and another top executives of making personal fortunes for themselves while they sent workers packing. “As the CWU we find the presentation by the company ridiculous and undermining not only workers, but the country at large. In 2016 the company presented almost the same reasons to cut over 2000 jobs and further outsourced thousands more jobs. The executives of Telkom rewarded themselves in 2018 with a total sum of R153.9 million for dismissing workers, and then claimed the company made profits,” Tshabalala said. He said the company’s revenue had grown by more than 58% in the 2018/19 financial year through mobile services, while its subscriptions grew by more than 85% to 9.7 million subscribers. “This was at a time when the company refused to reward workers with a decent salary increase. Instead, workers pocketed only 4% on average in a three-year cycle,” he said. Tshabalala said the government had to account for its role in the decision by Telkom. “The CWU wants to know when the board took this decision, and who was present?” he asked. The government currently holds a 40% stake at Telkom, and the CWU wants the ANC and Finance Minister Tito Mboweni to use their influence to block the planned retrenchments. Tshabalala accused the government of happily collecting dividends while workers were being fired from companies where the state had shares. “We all know (these networks) have been at the forefront of retrenching workers in the past years. Does this mean we have a government that supports retrenchments? The CWU is calling for an urgent meeting with the ruling party and the minister (Mboweni) to resolve this,” he said. The union threatened mass action if Telkom went ahead with its job cuts. Spokesperson Mooketsi Mocumi said Telkom and various unions, including the CWU, would on Wednesday start the process of consultation on the company’s organisational review. “In the process, facilitated by the CCMA, Telkom will present the factors necessitating the review of its organization,” Mocumi said.

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North America you knew we’d be coming back again 🧬 We’re so excited to bring the #DNAWorldTour to even more of you guys!! Tickets are on sale this Friday & fan club pre-sale starts tomorrow! Check https://t.co/wR7Soy5NL3 for all the info 🖤 #BSBDNA2020 pic.twitter.com/DSP2ARQYjd — Backstreet Boys (@backstreetboys) February 10, 2020 LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Backstreet Boys are back! They announced on Monday their next world tour will kick off this Summer and come to the Los Angeles area.If you missed your shot last year, you can see them again this fall when they perform at the Hollywood Bowl on Oct. 9. The tour begins July 10.What better way to show your Valentine some love than with tickets? They go on sale to the general public starting Friday, Feb. 14 at LiveNation.com . Fan club members are in luck because pre-sale tickets can be purchased Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 10 a.m. on their website.

EMBED >More News Videos American Idol judge and music legend Lionel Richie is proposing a remake of the 1985 hit "We Are the World" for COVID-19 relief efforts. The original song featured superstars like the late Kenny Rogers, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper and Diana Ross. LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- With restaurant dining rooms and bars shut down throughout Los Angeles during the coronavirus crisis, Mayor Eric Garcetti on Monday announced an emergency order for Angelenos who might like a drink from their local watering hole.Speaking at a news conference at City Hall, Garcetti said the order will allow home delivery of alcoholic beverages from L.A. establishments that serve food."We want folks to stay home," the mayor said, explaining the rationale for the move. "We need folks to stay home."Noting that restaurants depend on the sales that have plummeted during the pandemic, Garcetti described the newly allowed deliveries as "not only nice for the people of L.A. but good for those businesses, to keep them alive, so that when this crisis is over your favorite neighborhood watering hole and restaurant will -- we hope -- be there."Asked how the new policy differed from instructions handed down earlier this week by California's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Garcetti said that agency had issued "guidance" while his directive was "an order."

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community, Urunga RFS, Bushfire Appeal Urunga RFS were flabbergasted when a four-year-old girl arrived at their station with her mother and presented them with a ziplock bag containing $405 in notes and coins from selling cakes. Tiny Lilliarna Davis had been inspired to run the cake stall after seeing bushfires on the news and experiencing a pall of smoke covering her Toormina home in November. "I'd discussed with her how some children have lost their homes and all their toys so she donated some of her own belongings to them," said her mother Belinda. "Then she asked if she could do some cooking and sell the food so we went with it! My mum and dad (Darrell and Jill Davis) helped us with all the baking and we held the cake stall outside their house in Urunga." Advertised on social media as an RFS fundraiser, the cake stall was a roaring success. Belinda arranged to meet Senior Deputy Captain of Urunga Brigade Kale Hardie-Porter and Treasurer Craig Oates to hand over the takings. Kale and Craig accepted the money gratefully and explained that it would be passed on to the Mid North Coast RFS office to be banked towards the statewide RFS appeal. As a way of saying thanks, they also gave Lilliarna, her mum and her little brother the chance to sit inside a fire truck and have a good look around the station. Kale and his team from Urunga made world news in November when a cheeky note acknowledging that they'd 'borrowed' milk from the fridge of a house they'd saved became a viral sensation. Related: The little piece of paper that set the internet alight Belinda said Lilliarna is still keen to do more. "She wants to do a stall every day. We will definitely do another one and continue to support the RFS." https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/janene.carey/9d4dd78a-4c51-4cf3-a81b-ac9212f6791d_rotated_270.jpg/r0_864_2250_2135_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg

Sign up to FREE email alerts from Daily Star - Daily News Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email A four-year-old girl's hilarious supermarket rant branding coronavirus panic-buyers “a joke” who should be "taken to jail" has gone viral. Jessica Legg was annoyed when she went to Tesco with her mum, Jen, only to discover there was barely anything left on the shelves amid a spate of COVID-19 hoarding. Sitting in the trolley seat, the sassy tot from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, said hoarders should be "taken to jail”, Daily Record reports. The unimpressed little girl said: "There will be no food left if they take all of it. Granny's told me before, they've taken all this food and that's why there's no food left. (Image: Jen Legg) Her mum Jen replies: "I know it's ridiculous." Jessica goes on: "We should have gone to Morrisons because they would have lots of food." But when her mum explains the situation is the same there, the horrified girl is momentarily speechless, then replies: "You're joking! It's a joke!" Mum Jen replies: "I know it's a joke, but that's what people are doing." Jessica replies: "They might get in trouble, they should! What if they take all the food? There will be none left." When mum Jen explains people “are being greedy”, Jessica replies bluntly “they're bad”. The youngster then calls for drastic measures, adding: "Someone should go to their house and call the police and take them to jail. It's getting annoying, they're taking all this food and it's a joke." (Image: Jen Legg) Jessica's rant has been shared more than 8,000 times and received hundreds of comments from people in agreement with the straight-talking four-year-old. An amused viewer said: "Can you head your little lady towards a career in politics – old head on young shoulders!” In agreement, a second person wrote: "Well said Miss J and not a scripted comment, more common sense from a four-year-old than the adults panic buying. Love her."

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Registration is open now for our first PA Day Camp of the new year! Start 2020 off with a bang, and enjoy a day of crafts, games, and activities to celebrate ancient Egypt. The camp runs from 9 AM to 4 PM and is open for children ages 5 – 10. January 31, 9 am – 4 pm Cost is just $30 per child, and covers all craft supplies, includes early drop-off or late pick-up if required, and a healthy afternoon snack! For more information or to register, call 613-257-8503 or email appletonmuseum@hotmail.com

Funny story actually. Normal afternoon, did as you do around a hub, grappled in circles with no real objective in mind. So then I see one of those "SC3KS CHEAP 10K ONLY! BID NOW!" advertisers. Being a curious guy with close to no money, I opened his ah, and lo and behold, 10 compactors. So I exited his ah and checked his sky lea moe. He's got young armor, spicy thick tac, and decent skills. I wondered, why would a guy already so accomplished decide to do this kind of weak, scummy scam? So I attempted to party him and visited his island to attempt to find out why. He declined the party invite, but his island was open, and so naturally I went in. I saw 7 clay minions, nothing else. I thought, "ok, a clay guy. maybe thats how he gets the money." So I partied him. He accepted, surprisingly, and he said "sup" and went back to his private island. HOWEVER, he did not appear on the clay minion island. So, whaddaya know, Mr SC3K scammer's got a booster profile. I confronted him, we had a nice long chat, he tried to defend himself with loopholes. Some highlights: "SC3Ks dont mean anything" "Technically SC3K isnt an item" "It's their fault for not looking closely" "i didnt advertise it" "They said you're not allowed an alt to boost but they never said alt profile" Smh.

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TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Wednesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (13,139.28, up 568.15 points.) Bombardier Inc. (TSX:BBD.B). Industrials. Up six cents, or 13.64 per cent, to 50 cents on 28.7 million shares. Cenovus Energy Inc. (TSX:CVE). Energy. Up 27 cents, or 10.51 per cent, to $2.84 on 15.6 million shares. TC Energy Corp. (TSX:TRP). Energy. Up $3.14, or 5.65 per cent, to $58.76 on 14.3 million shares. Aurora Cannabis Inc. (TSX:ACB). Health care. Up one cent, or 0.95 per cent, to $1.06 on 14.1 million shares. Baytex Energy Corp. (TSX:BTE). Energy. Up 4.5 cents, or 14.06 per cent, to 36.5 cents on 13.2 million shares. Air Canada (TSX:AC). Industrials. Up $2.40, or 15.88 per cent, to $17.51 on 13 million shares. Companies in the news: Air Canada — Shippers are in uncharted territory as the COVID-19 pandemic upends delivery patterns, with surging consumer demand mitigating a drop in corporate orders amid border closures and travel controls. Air Canada has started using its aircraft to operate cargo-only flights to Europe, with other flights planned for Latin America and South America to carry time-sensitive shipments, including medical supplies. Metro Inc. (TSX:MRU). Up $1.78 or 3.2 per cent to $56.92. Grocers and third-party services are seeing an influx in demand for delivery, resulting in longer-than-normal wait times as health and government authorities urge people to practice social distancing amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Spokeswoman Marie-Claude Bacon says it’s been impossible to meet the increased demand as traffic on its website has doubled since the outbreak began. Cineplex Inc. (TSX:CGX). Up $1.01 or 8.3 per cent to $13.17. Canadian senior executives have been taking pay cuts in response to the COVID-19 crisis. In the oil and gas industry, executives at Canadian Natural Resources and Ensign Energy Services Inc. were among the first Canadian operations to commit to lower salaries in the short term as part of broader reductions in capital spending. Cineplex Inc. outlined changes to its leadership pay structure that will take place over a month, after it temporarily laid off part-time employees and closed all movie theatres through at least April 2. Canada Goose (TSX:GOOS). Up 58 cents or 2.1 per cent to $27.90. Canada Goose is shifting its factories to start production of medical gear for health-care workers and patients across Canada in an effort to help deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The company, best known for its luxury winter parkas, says it will begin making scrubs and patient gowns and start distributing them to hospitals next week. The gear will be donated locally at no cost. Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (TSX:AEM). Down $5.07 or 7.9 per cent to $59.16. Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. is ramping down operations in Quebec’s Abitibi region including the LaRonde complex, the Goldex mine and the Canadian Malartic mine as non-essential businesses shut down in the province. The gold miner is also withdrawing its full year 2020 production and cash costs guidance. Agnico Eagle says the Quebec mines will be placed on care and maintenance until April 13. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 25, 2020. The Canadian Press

TORONTO — Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. is ramping down operations in Quebec's Abitibi region including the LaRonde complex, the Goldex mine and the Canadian Malartic mine as non-essential businesses shut down in the province. The gold miner is also withdrawing its full year 2020 production and cash costs guidance. Agnico Eagle says the Quebec mines will be placed on care and maintenance until April 13 as mining operations have been ordered to minimize their activities in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. It also says it will reduce activities at the Meliadine and Meadowbank mining operations in Nunavut, which are serviced out of Quebec. Exploration activities in Canada will also be suspended during the period. Agnico Eagle says its Mexican and Finnish mines continue to operate at normal levels. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 25, 2020. Companies in this story: (TSX:AEM) The Canadian Press

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Late 'voice' of Kentucky athletics, Cawood Ledford, voted into NSMA Hall of Fame Cawood Ledford, the late "voice" of Kentucky athletics, has been voted into the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame, the association announced Monday. Ledford, who died in 2001, spent 39 years calling UK basketball and football games. He even called several Kentucky Derbys, winning three Eclipse Awards for his coverage of thoroughbred racing. He was tabbed Kentucky Sportscaster of the Year 22 times, according to the UK Athletics Hall of Fame. The 2020 Hall of Fame class will be celebrated on June 29.

Marketing Nigeria to investors at the UK-Africa Investment Summit in London should have been an easy task owing to the country’s glaring opportunities, but to some investors, its infrastructural challenges are too big a risk to overlook. According to three investors who spoke with BusinessDay at the summit on Monday, the investment opportunities in Nigeria… Already a member? Login! Choose us for news analysis that respects your intelligence, time and money. Subscribe to BusinessDay to read full article SUBSCRIBE

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Ponce, Puerto Rico (CNN) The Ponciana Condominium building here is one of the most distinctive in the island's second-largest city. It's a 12-story structure, just south of downtown, with medical and commercial units on its first three floors and residential units on the remaining nine. But after a series of tremors and aftershocks that have rattled Puerto Rico's southern coast since December 28, the tower now sits empty. Ponce authorities declared it uninhabitable shortly after a mandatory evacuation prompted by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake left cracks and fissures on three sides of the building. Ivette Campos says her elderly aunt was one of those residents who were quickly evacuated. "They kicked all the residents out as well as people in the doctors' offices, and nobody truly knows what's going to happen with the building," Campos said. The Ponciana was cleared of residents since an earthquake and aftershocks. Mayor María E. Meléndez said that there are areas in Ponce that "were severely affected and we estimate the damage to be above $200 million, in addition to the losses sustained by businesses that have had to shut their doors." Read More

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The newly appointed U.S. official charged with overseeing disaster recovery in Puerto Rico said Tuesday that while the pace of federally funded projects to help hurricane and earthquake victims has quickened, he's worried about long term efforts. The comments by Peter Brown, White House special representative for Puerto Rico's disaster recovery, came after he met for the first time with officials in the U.S. territory amid criticism that the local and federal government response has been slow. "The reputation seems to lag the reality. The reality is improving," he said, adding that he will report to U.S. President Donald Trump upon his return to the U.S. mainland. "I think he will be convinced that federal money and federal efforts is being spent wisely here." Ever since Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm in September 2017, Trump has been accused of delaying and denying aid to the U.S. territory amid concerns of corruption and government inefficiency on the island. The U.S. Congress has approved nearly $50 billion to help Puerto Rico, but federal officials have only disbursed roughly $15 billion. Brown, who previously served as commander of the Miami-based U.S. Coast Guard's Seventh District, said that while he's aware many were dissatisfied with the pace of recovery, it has changed dramatically in part because of the relationship with Puerto Rico's new governor. Alex Amparo, Puerto Rico's coordinating officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said the agency was tentatively approving 10-15 projects a month six months ago. Now, it's up to 160 projects per month. "We're seeing results," he said. "Expect that to continue." In addition to helping hurricane victims, FEMA also is providing federal funds for those affected by a 6.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Jan. 7 followed by strong aftershocks that damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes along the island's south coast. Amparo said FEMA has received nearly 30,000 requests for assistance and issued some $19 million as a result, including $5 million for rental housing. However, Brown warned it will take years for Puerto Rico to recover from the hurricane and earthquakes. "My main concern is sustainability," he said. "This is not a one-time injection of money into the economy or infrastructure of Puerto Rico... Continuity is vital." The meeting with Brown came just days after Gov. Wanda Vázquez wrote to the U.S. Senate. Her letter urged it to approve a bill that would allocate nearly $5 billion in emergency supplement funding after Trump approved a major disaster declaration for more than two dozen Puerto Rican municipalities following the earthquake. She noted that more than 100 public schools remain closed and nearly 900 people are still in shelters after the earthquake, all while Puerto Rico is mired in a 13-year recession. "The U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico have faced drastic challenges in recent years from the debt crisis to the severe storm damage from Hurricanes Irma and Maria," she wrote. "It is my hope Congress acts quickly to respond to the island in this time of great need."

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New Zealand for the second time in as many games squandered a winning position against India and allowed the Super Over miseries to pile on in Wellington after their earlier loss in Hamilton. Here’s a look back at New Zealand’s tryst with Super Overs. Till date they’ve only won once and that was against Australia. West Indies vs New Zealand in Auckland (2008) The big hitting Chris Gayle was in town and after both sides had tied on 155. The southpaw clobbered Daniel Vettori for 25 runs as he played out the full over. Jacob Oram and Ross Taylor had their task cut out but Suleimann Benn picked two wickets as New Zealand could only manage 15. New Zealand vs Australia in Christchurch (2010) 428 runs were scored in 40 overs as Australia and New Zealand matched each other shot for shot. The Super Over battle however was quite the opposite as Tim Southee bowled with fire. He dismissed David Warner for a duck and Australia could only manage 6 runs. Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill needed only three deliveries to finish it off and were helped by Shaun Tait’s wayward bowling as well. Sri Lanka vs New Zealand in Pallekele (2012) Mahela Jayawardene, Thisara Perera took charge initially and with a little help from Tillakaratne Dilshan, the Lankans were able to score 12/1 with Jayawardene being run-out by Brendon McCullum. In response, the Kiwis with Martin Guptill, McCullum and Ross Taylor could not find the boundary even once and surrendered in rather tame fashion. West Indies vs New Zealand in Pallekele (2012) New Zealand batted first this time around and Ross Taylor took Marlon Samuels to the cleaners. Along with Brendon McCullum they plundered 17 runs of six deliveries. However, Southee began with a no-ball which Chris Gayle smashed for six and then smashed one of the fifth delivery to eliminate the Kiwis from the World T20. West Indies eventually went onto win the tournament. England vs New Zealand in Lord’s (2019) Possibly the most memorable World Cup final in the history of the game saw a tied Super Over after Ben Stokes had somehow managed to bring them to a tie in the 50th over. Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler each smashed a boundary off Trent Boult as England scored 15. New Zealand with Jimmy Neesham and Martin Guptill had Jofra Archer, a bowler they had found difficult to tackle earlier in the day, to contend with. Neesham slammed Archer into the crowd of the second delivery to set it up, but Guptill could not complete a second run as Jason Roy threw accurately to Buttler. Both sides finished on 15 runs. And Engand were awarded the World Cup on the basis of a boundary count rule, which is now defunct. England vs New Zealand in Auckland (2019) Months after the Lord’s drama, England and New Zealand were at it again. In a rain affected 11-overs a side game, both managed 146. Eoin Morgan and Jonny Bairstow did substantial damage to Southee’s confidence and took 17 runs of six deliveries. With no Jofra Archer around, the Kiwis would have breathed a lot easier but Chris Jordan restricted them to 8 runs and England took the series. India vs New Zealand in Hamilton (2020) A brilliant knock by Kane Williamson went in vain as he failed to take his team over the line in the final over against Mohammed Shami. In the Super Over though Williamson got the better of Jasprit Bumrah and hit him for a hat-trick of boundaries to set India a target of 18. The first 4 balls were okay. Southee had 10 to defend from the last two. That’s when Rohit Sharma got into fifth gear and smacked two sixes of the last two balls to break all Kiwi hearts. India vs New Zealand in Wellington (2020) Needing just 11 runs off the last two overs with seven wickets in hand, New Zealand dug a hole for themselves yet again, taking the game to a Super Over two nights after doing the same in Hamilton. With no Kane Williamson in the team and Guptill injured Tim Seifert and Colin Munro managed 13 runs in six balls and India got there effortlessly. KL Rahul smashed 10 runs off the first two balls before he was caught. Then, a fired-up Virat Kohli and Sanju Samson finished the game in style.

Ian Smith might as well author a book on New Zealand's tryst with Super Overs. Kane Williamson's men have featured in three Super Overs in the last year including the historic 2019 World Cup final. On each occasion New Zealand have lost, the last two coming in T20I series at home against England and India. So imagine the state of Smith's heart, having commentated on each of the games, including the close finish in Hamilton on Wednesday. For those whose nerves are too frayed to relive the finishes all over again, ESPNcricinfo has spared you the gory details and put together handy summaries instead. January 29 2020, Hamilton, v India To begin with India did not even know there would be a Super Over. Defending nine off the final over in regulation time, Mohammed Shami started it watching Ross Taylor bludgeon a full toss high over midwicket for six and then finished it slinging in a pitch-perfect yorker that bowled Taylor, which meant the scores were tied. Indian captain Virat Kohli walked up to the umpires to shake hands, only to be told there would be a Super Over. Then Jasprit Bumrah, who had bowled the second-most expensive spell in his T20 career, struggled to find the precision he is known for giving away 17 runs. Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, experienced hands at handling pressure situations, were at the crease. Tim Southee, New Zealand's most experienced fast bowler was once again entrusted by Williamson to bowl it, despite his mixed history with Super Overs. New Zealand have played seven Super Overs in T20is and Southee has bowled the last five of those. But only once before today did he have to defend. It was in a group match of the 2012 World T20 in Pallekele, where New Zealand needed to defend 17 again and to do that he had to keep Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels quiet. Southee started with a no ball, Gayle crashed him for a six. He finished the over with a full toss, Samuels lobbed him high over a leaping Martin Guptill to seal the match with another six. Today, Southee started strongly, giving away only three runs off his first two balls to Rohit. But Rahul then smartly moved outside his off stump and lapped him for an easy four, putting the pressure back on Southee. Rohit returned strongly, whacking an in-the-slot ball and a length ball for consecutive sixes, leaving Southee and New Zealand shaking in disbelief. Again. November 10, 2019, Auckland, v England The Super Over was nowhere in sight when Jimmy Neesham, defending 16 runs off the final over against England, had just given three runs off his first three balls including a wicket. Then Chris Jordan walloped a six, ran a two, and lapped a four leaving Neesham smiling in disbelief. Southee failed twice in executing the yorker and both went sailing over the straight boundary as Eoin Morgan and Johnny Bairstow set a target of 18 for New Zealand, two more than the World Cup final. This time, however, New Zealand were not so far behind on boundary countback, needing just one more to level things up. Unfortunately for the hosts, Martin Guptill was tied down at the non-striker's end as Tim Seifert attempted to negotiate the variations of Jordan. Although Seifert did get a four, off the second legitimate delivery, the next was a dot followed by his dismissal, courtesy of a brilliant lunging catch from Morgan running back at cover. Guptill could then only run a single against a perfect yorker, as Jordan wrapped up the match with another dot ball. July 14 2019, Lord's, v England You haven't really forgotten how this one played out have you?

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Police have disputed reports of a third death in the incident. Gauteng Police Commissioner Elias Mawela has refuted allegations that police did not respond swiftly to the deadly New Year’s Day shooting in Melville, Johannesburg. Mawela says law enforcement officials were out in their numbers on New Year’s Eve and it was an extremely busy night. The Gauteng police boss says investigations are continuing and police are following up on a number of leads regarding the shooting which left two people dead and six others wounded, two critically. At least two people have died and six others have been injured in what appears to be a drive-by #shooting in #Melville, #Johannesburg on #NewYears morning. Updates to follow. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/fotQVCyJiC — Jamaine Krige (@jour_maine) January 1, 2020 Witnesses of the #MelvilleShooting say an altercation broke out between #NewYears revellers. The suspected shooter left before returning to the restaurant and opening fire from a vehicle. At least two people have died and six others have been transported to hospital. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/ebe0XIebE7 — Jamaine Krige (@jour_maine) January 1, 2020 One of the wounded is well-known actor, Mortimer Williams. Police have rubbished reports of a third death in the tragedy. Mawela says Melville residents and eyewitnesses have been extremely helpful in the investigation. “Now remember during that time of the night you’ll know that our communications system will be clogged also the network won’t be favourable but I can assure the people we were all over. Including myself I was on duty the whole night so we were around there, the response by the police, it was reasonable because we did have police officers around that particular vicinity all of us we were on duty.” Watch related videos below:

JOHANNESBURG - A manhunt is underway after two women were killed and six others wounded in a drive-by shooting in Melville, Johannesburg. The shooting took place just after midnight at a restaurant. Police said in a statement that a vehicle approached the restaurant and fired multiple shots at patrons sitting outside. The two victims are aged between 30 and 40. The wounded were rushed to nearby hospitals. Police said that two of the victims are in critical condition. Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela has condemned the incident. Mawela urged the investigators to ensure that no stone is left unturned in ensuring that the suspects are found and brought to book. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or have information is urged to call the crime stop number 08600 10111 or by giving a tip-off on the MySAPS app, anonymously if they so choose.

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Soldiers and police officers conducting checks at a roadblock during the movement control order (MCO) in Kuala Lumpur March 29, 2020. — Picture by Firdaus Latif KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 — Putrajaya has announced today an enhanced movement control order (EMCO) in seven villages in Hulu Langat, after 71 positive cases were identified among 274 residents of a tahfiz school there. The two-week EMCO effective this midnight will involve the areas of Batu 21 to Batu 24 in Sungai Lui, involving 3,918 residents from 700 households, Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today. “Taking into account the high total cases in the school, the government with the advice of the Health Minister has decided to implement an EMCO, the second after Simpang Renggam,” Ismail Sabri said. He was referring to the Maahad Tahfiz An-Nabawiyyah in Sungai Lui, where students learn Quran memorisation. The seven villages comprise of five Malay-majority villages, and two Orang Asli villages. Last week, Putrajaya announced the EMCO in two areas in Simpang Renggam after recording 61 positive cases of Covid-19 there, out of 83 in Kluang. During the order, all local and visitors in the areas are subject to house curfew, while non-locals are not allowed in with all entry points blocked. In addition, all business activities must halt during the period. Any essential food item will be distributed by the Social Welfare Department. A medical base will also be set up there. Police officers, Armed Forces, Civil Defence Force, and People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA) personnel will be stationed there to enforce the order. Earlier today, Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has not ruled out the possibility of EMCO in more areas in Selangor, as the state had a high number of Covid-19 cases in a number of areas. Yesterday, Malay Mail reported that Kepong and Klang were now officially red zones or Covid-19 hotspots with more than 40 cases each, and Lembah Pantai continued to record the highest number of Covid-19 patients while Hulu Langat had overtaken Petaling Jaya in terms of Covid-19 case numbers.

29/03/2020 08:15 PM KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 -- The government will enforce an Enhanced Movement Order Control (EMCO) in areas covering Batu 21 to Batu 24, Sungai Lui in Hulu Langat, Selangor, starting from midnight tonight. Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the EMCO involves seven villages, comprising two Orang Asli settlements and five Malay villages. The order, effective from midnight (12.01 am tonight) until April 13, covering 700 homes with 3,918 residents, he said in a statement here this evening. Ismail Sabri said the decision was made after taking into account the high number of COVID-19 positive cases involving Maahad Tahfiz AnNabawiyyah students at Batu 23, Sungai Lui. He said the Ministry of Health had confirmed that there were 71 positive cases out of 274 students at the maahad tahfiz. All residents and visitors who are already in the areas are not allowed to leave home during the implementation of the EMCO, he said. "Non-residents and visitors will not be allowed to enter the areas during the period of the EMCO and all business activities suspended. “For the next 14 days, food to all residents will be provided by the Welfare Department and a Medical Base will be opened in affected areas while all entry points into the areas will be closed,” he said. Ismail Sabri who is also Defence Minister said to ensure compliance with this order, the Royal Malaysian Police, the Malaysian Armed Forces, the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) and the People's Volunteer Corps will control the entire area.

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Welcome to our new article page. Tell us what you think about our new look by taking this survey. I love creativity, and one of the most fruitful uses of creativity is landing a job. You have to set yourself apart from the crowd. Over the years I've encountered some very creative ways that people have found jobs, and I would like to share some of my favorites with you. Social media is a great way not only to meet potential employers, but also a place to post some of your work or start a blog. How about creating your own website? Enhance your resume by adding images, graphs, color and design. Make a video. One person even wrote a song. Send some extra special items with your cover letter and resume, such as cupcakes, cookies, a box of chocolates or doughnuts that spell out your name. As hokey as that may sound, it can work. Harvey Mackay. I really get a kick out of crazy stunts. Like sending a potential employer a shoe with a resume and a note, "Just wanted to get my foot in the door." One guy took out a billboard touting his qualifications. I've heard people doing radio ads and creating an imaginative brochure or direct-mail piece. Still another sent a singing telegram praising her skills. One reader shared with me that when she was looking for a job, she went to the Atlanta airport and passed her resume out to dozens and dozens of business travelers. She thought this would be a good idea, since a high percentage of travelers during the week are on business. As she passed out her resumes, she told the recipient to please give it to a decision-maker. "It was incredible how many phone calls I received!" she said. She had several interviews and got a "great job in medical sales." Another individual I personally counseled was zero for 100 in trying to crack the advertising ranks right out of college. She went to one of the top ad agencies in Minneapolis and offered to work for free for six months to get her foot in the door. It ended up in a permanent job. One woman who had been out of work for four months saw an ad for her dream job with a local TV station. The standard tactic — a cover letter and her resume — netted absolutely nothing. So she launched a more imaginative campaign, which included letters from the fellow she was dating, from her lawyer, from her 80-year-old mother, even from her priest, who wrote, "I'm enclosing this in hopes that you will hire" the woman. "It's depressing to look at her sad face, and besides, we haven't had a donation from her in months." She got the job. Steve Schussler, founder of Rainforest Cafe and a good friend, had a dream of working in sales for a radio station in Miami. He went to a container company and purchased a wooden barrel large enough for him to fit in. Then he went to a costume shop and rented a Superman outfit, complete with blue tights, red shoes and cape. He paid two friends to deliver him in the crate to the radio station manager's office. As it turned out, the manager was in a board meeting, but they insisted he come out, which he did with the entire board. When they finally slid the lid away, Steve flew out of the crate like a jack-in-the-box, gasping for breath. He smiled at everyone and announced, "I'm your new super salesman." One of the board members said, "Son, you are the sickest person we've ever met. You're hired." One of my all-time favorite job stories happened years ago, when my youngest daughter was graduating from the University of Michigan. Seated up in the rafters, I watched thousands of graduates parade across the stage collecting their sheepskins. Suddenly, a roar went up from the crowd. A female student was walking across the stage with a placard on top of her graduation cap. In huge white letters were the words, "I need a job." After the program ended, businesspeople were falling all over themselves to give her their cards. Did she land a job because of her creativity? I don't know, but I do know that 8,333 graduates without jobs sure wished they had thought of it first. Mackay's Moral: Creativity has no script; it is inspired ad-libbing. www.harveymackay.com • MackayMitchell Envelope Co., 2100 Elm St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414.

"I need you to go out to the orchard and pick a basketful of apples," a mother instructed her young daughter. "Just walk row by row and pick the prettiest ones. There are plenty on the trees, so just check each tree once and move along. You won't have time to dawdle; I'll need them in time for lunch in a half-hour." The girl thought this should be simple enough when she arrived at the orchard. However, as she walked the rows of trees, she found it difficult to choose. Each apple she inspected seemed to be of exceptional quality. She would look over one tree, but decide that the next tree might hold better apples. After all, she only wanted to pick the best and reddest. But when she reached the edge of the orchard, her basket was empty. And she was late for lunch. "All those trees and I couldn't make up my mind," she thought. "What if I didn't get the best ones?" Was it the fear of making a poor decision or just uncertainty? That day, she realized that hesitating to make a decision and holding out for something better had prevented her from realizing the value of what was right in front of her. We have all second-guessed ourselves or hesitated at some point — and usually for good reason. Perhaps new information came to light, or a budget couldn't be stretched, or staff couldn't handle any more work. Those are reasonable causes for hesitation. And while I often advise people to trust their instincts, it's also important to know the difference between hesitating and deciding on inaction because you don't know where to begin. Small or large problems that can be overcome should not hold up a project when all the other elements are in place. Putting off a decision disrupts the momentum when key players are ready to go. When indecision and hesitation go beyond the necessary fact-gathering and initial planning, find a way to take a first step. If making a decision is the problem, explore the possible reasons: Fear of failure, fear of success, lack of resources or experience, tight deadlines, even sheer laziness — all are potential buzzkills. Those are, however, all surmountable problems. Fears, even when reasonable, are only as scary as you make them. Failure isn't fatal, as I like to say, and success is sweet. Visualize what a completed project would look like and go from there. Put your imagination to work, and allow yourself to dream a little. Think about what could go right instead of what could go wrong. When resources are in short supply, turn it into an opportunity to make do with what you have. Look for ways to repurpose existing budgets or staffing to adjust to changing needs. It's not always simple, to be sure, but organizations face similar challenges every day. Harvey Mackay. If you're short on experience, get busy and study up. Find a mentor, take a class, read everything you can get your hands on. Pick the brains of your staff and colleagues. If laziness is the big issue, then my suggestion is to move aside and get out of the way for those who can get the job done. Seriously. Motivation is critical to decision-making, and if your hesitation is causing a project to suffer, then the problem is not the project. I'll share a little rhyme that has helped me get moving when I need a jump-start. I wish I could find the author so I could express my gratitude for the inspiration. See if it doesn't help you, too. How and When We are often greatly bothered By two fussy little men, Who sometimes block our pathway — Their names are How and When. If we have a task or duty Which we can put off awhile, And we do not go and do it — You should see those two rogues smile. But there is a way to beat them, And I will tell you how: If you have a task or duty, Do it well, and do it now. If you see yourself in this little ditty, it's time to rethink your future. Because the future belongs to those who act! Mackay's Moral: "Do it well" — or why bother? "Do it now" — and then get on to the next challenge! www.harveymackay.com • MackayMitchell Envelope Co., 2100 Elm St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414.

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The Trump administration’s killing of Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani did not make the US any safer, Nancy Pelosi has claimed. As the House of Representatives prepares to vote on a war power resolution that would limit the president’s ability to pursue further military action against Iran in the absence of Congressional approval, the speaker said Mr Trump’s attitude towards legislators on Capitol Hill had been “disdainful”. Typically, when president’s take military action against a foreign power, the White House notifies in advance a small number of senior members of both the House and Senate – the so-called gang of eight – who are sworn to secrecy. Download the new Indpendent Premium app Sharing the full story, not just the headlines In the case of the killing of last week’s killing Soleimani as he arrived at Iraq’s Baghdad airport, the briefing came several days after the event. “It was disdainful in terms of not consulting with Congress,” Ms Pelosi, said on Thursday during her weekly press briefly. Shape Created with Sketch. Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Show all 24 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral 1/24 Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions Iranian mourners gather around a vehicle carrying the coffin of top general Qasem Soleimani during the final stage of funeral processions, in his hometown Kerman. Soleimani was killed outside Baghdad airport in a drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump, ratcheting up tensions with Iran which has vowed "severe revenge" AFP via Getty Images 2/24 Tehran Iranian people carry a coffin of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani during a funeral procession in Tehran Official Khamenei website via Reuters 3/24 Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions The assassination of the 62-year-old heightened international concern about a new war in the volatile, oil-rich Middle East and rattled financial markets AFP via Getty 4/24 Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters 5/24 Tehran Mourners packed the streets of Tehran for ceremonies to pay homage to Soleimani, who spearheaded Iran's Middle East operations as commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force and was killed in a US drone strike on January 3 Iranian Supreme Leader's Office/EPA 6/24 Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images 7/24 Tehran Iranians set a US and an Israeli flag on fire during the funeral procession AFP via Getty Images 8/24 Tehran Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, centre, with Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, second left, and President Hassan Rouhani, third left, standing next to him as he leads a prayer over the caskets of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at Tehran University Khamenei.IR/AFP via Getty 9/24 Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AP 10/24 Tehran Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, left, openly weeps as he leads a prayer over the coffin of Qassem Soleimani AP 11/24 Tehran Mourners holding posters of Qassem Soleimani AP 12/24 Tehran Coffins of Soleimani and others who were killed in Iraq by a US drone strike, are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession, at the Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) square AP 13/24 Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions An Iranian mourner holds a placard AFP via Getty Images 14/24 Tehran Downtown Tehran was brought to a standstill as mourners flooded the Iranian capital Khamenei.IR/AFP via Getty 15/24 Tehran Former Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps chief Mohamad Ali Jafari prays on the coffins of Qasem Soleimani and of other victims during their funeral ceremony EPA 16/24 Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images 17/24 Tehran EPA 18/24 Tehran EPA 19/24 Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters 20/24 Tehran Official Khamenei website via Reuters 21/24 Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images 22/24 Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters 23/24 Tehran Satellite image Maxar Technologies/AP 24/24 Tehran EPA 1/24 Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions Iranian mourners gather around a vehicle carrying the coffin of top general Qasem Soleimani during the final stage of funeral processions, in his hometown Kerman. Soleimani was killed outside Baghdad airport in a drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump, ratcheting up tensions with Iran which has vowed "severe revenge" AFP via Getty Images 2/24 Tehran Iranian people carry a coffin of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani during a funeral procession in Tehran Official Khamenei website via Reuters 3/24 Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions The assassination of the 62-year-old heightened international concern about a new war in the volatile, oil-rich Middle East and rattled financial markets AFP via Getty 4/24 Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters 5/24 Tehran Mourners packed the streets of Tehran for ceremonies to pay homage to Soleimani, who spearheaded Iran's Middle East operations as commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force and was killed in a US drone strike on January 3 Iranian Supreme Leader's Office/EPA 6/24 Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images 7/24 Tehran Iranians set a US and an Israeli flag on fire during the funeral procession AFP via Getty Images 8/24 Tehran Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, centre, with Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, second left, and President Hassan Rouhani, third left, standing next to him as he leads a prayer over the caskets of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at Tehran University Khamenei.IR/AFP via Getty 9/24 Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AP 10/24 Tehran Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, left, openly weeps as he leads a prayer over the coffin of Qassem Soleimani AP 11/24 Tehran Mourners holding posters of Qassem Soleimani AP 12/24 Tehran Coffins of Soleimani and others who were killed in Iraq by a US drone strike, are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession, at the Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) square AP 13/24 Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions An Iranian mourner holds a placard AFP via Getty Images 14/24 Tehran Downtown Tehran was brought to a standstill as mourners flooded the Iranian capital Khamenei.IR/AFP via Getty 15/24 Tehran Former Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps chief Mohamad Ali Jafari prays on the coffins of Qasem Soleimani and of other victims during their funeral ceremony EPA 16/24 Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images 17/24 Tehran EPA 18/24 Tehran EPA 19/24 Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters 20/24 Tehran Official Khamenei website via Reuters 21/24 Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images 22/24 Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters 23/24 Tehran Satellite image Maxar Technologies/AP 24/24 Tehran EPA She added: “Last week, in our view, the president — the administration conducted a provocative, disproportionate airstrike against Iran, which endangered Americans. And did so without consulting Congress.” CNN pointed out that Ms Pelosi said she asked the Trump administration why the plans were not shared – as is usually the case – and she told “we held it closely”. “And the ‘president said, well, ‘I informed you by reading my tweets’. No, that’s not the relationship that our founders had in mind in the constitution of the United States, had when they gave power to the president — to the White House to do one thing in terms of our national security, and to the Congress to declare war and to allocate resources and the rest,” she said. In the aftermath of the killing of 62-year-old Soleimani, top US officials, including secretary of state Mike Pompeo and defence secretary Mike Esper, defended the move, suggesting there was an imminent threat to American interests in plans he was overseeing. Mr Esper said the threat was “days” away, rather than weeks, when questioned by reporters at the Pentagon this week. “We have no illusions about Iran, no illusions about Soleimani,“ Ms Pelosi said. “He was a terrible person, did bad things. But it’s not about how bad they are. It’s about how good we are — protecting the people in a way that prevents war, and does not have us producing again and again generations of veterans who are suffering.”

Sri Lanka’s attempt at setting a new world record for the largest gathering of twins appears to have been foiled because too many showed up to participate. Organisers struggled to count the pairs – who turned up to a designated sports stadium in the thousands – and were unable to meet the strict registration guidelines set by Guinness World Records. Huge queues built up around the stadium in Colombo as the pairs waited to get their birth certificates checked, and many appeared to leave before they could be added to the registration records. Download the new Independent Premium app Sharing the full story, not just the headlines The guidelines required all the pairs to remain in the stadium to pose for a mandatory group photo or wait at least five minutes in order for the record to be made. Wasana Ranasinghe, spokeswoman for campaign group Sri Lanka Twins, told AFP: “We had more than we expected. Getting them all to go through a single entry point was not easy.” Shape Created with Sketch. Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record Show all 24 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Sri Lanka attempts to break twin gathering world record 1/24 AFP via Getty 2/24 Reuters 3/24 Reuters 4/24 Reuters 5/24 AFP via Getty 6/24 AP 7/24 AFP via Getty 8/24 EPA 9/24 AFP via Getty 10/24 AP 11/24 AP 12/24 Reuters 13/24 EPA 14/24 Reuters 15/24 Reuters 16/24 Reuters 17/24 EPA 18/24 EPA 19/24 AFP via Getty 20/24 EPA 21/24 AFP via Getty 22/24 AP 23/24 Reuters 24/24 AFP via Getty 1/24 AFP via Getty 2/24 Reuters 3/24 Reuters 4/24 Reuters 5/24 AFP via Getty 6/24 AP 7/24 AFP via Getty 8/24 EPA 9/24 AFP via Getty 10/24 AP 11/24 AP 12/24 Reuters 13/24 EPA 14/24 Reuters 15/24 Reuters 16/24 Reuters 17/24 EPA 18/24 EPA 19/24 AFP via Getty 20/24 EPA 21/24 AFP via Getty 22/24 AP 23/24 Reuters 24/24 AFP via Getty Ms Ranasinghe said organisers were able to register just over 6,000 pairs, from the ages of three months to 89 years, during a five-hour period. “We will know in two weeks if we actually qualified for the record or not, but even otherwise, we have managed to raise awareness,” she added. Many pairs made long journeys to be at the gathering, some reportedly travelling up to 10 hours by train. Raheen Usman, a 19-year-old from Colombo who attended the event with her twin Farheen, told Reuters: "It's fascinating. I have made a lot of new friends – all my friends are twins now." The previous world record was set by Taiwan in 1999, where 3,961 pairs of twins, 37 sets of triplets and four sets of quadruplets gathered. If the current attempt does not succeed, organisers and other participants vowed to double down and try again next time. Sri Lanka Twins said it organised the event to raise awareness of underprivileged twins, triplets and quadruplets born into poorer families who struggle to cope.

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When a little boy ate cake during a camping trip, his father was furious. The dad was camping with his boy on March 28, 2015, and could not believe that the boy had eaten the cake without permission. That’s when Mauricio Alejandro Torres decided to punish the boy for his misdeed in a way that the boy would surely never forget for the rest of his life. Torres sexually assaulted the little boy with a dirty stick as a cruel and unusual form of punishment for eating cake without permission. Because Torres attacked his son, Maurice “Isaiah” Torres, he infected him with a bacterial infection that resulted in the boy’s death by sepsis the following day. The stick that dad had used to sexually assault his son had apparently been dirty and brought foreign bacteria into the boy’s body that quickly ate away at his insides, killing him quickly. Torres, 50, took the boy to the Bella Vista medical clinic near his home the following day; however, it was too late. The boy died from sepsis at the facility, which was near his home in Arkansas. After the abuse, the boy’s father forced the child to endure grueling exercises as further punishment. Dad was not the only one in on the prank. The boy’s mother also abused the child for eating cake, pushing him to the ground. The boy’s mother pleaded guilty to capital murder in March 2017. She was given a life sentence in prison. Now it is Torres’s time to receive his punishment. Because he was the prime abuser in the case that ended the boy’s life, he has been charged with capital murder and battery of the little boy. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the court did not take long to review the facts and convict him of his crimes. Torres was sentenced to death in November 2016 for violently debasing his own son with a stick and killing him. However, the conviction was overturned last year in April because the assault with the stick occurred in Missouri and not Arkansas. Capital murder cases that carry the death penalty must have occurred in the same state that issued the death penalty. Because the court stupidly overlooked this legal issue, Torres will not be sentenced to death. This technicality means that his original trial was overturned, and he gets a second chance at getting away with murder. He will have to be tried again at Benton County Circuit Court in Arkansas, and the trial will begin on Thursday. Although Torres gets another shot at freedom thanks to the justice system’s failure, he faces severe penalties if he gets convicted. He faces up to life in prison or the death penalty if he gets convicted for the capital murder charge. If he gets convicted of the battery charges, he faces five to twenty years in prison. The original medical examiner testified that Isaiah’s death was caused by a bacterial infection from the stick that was used to sexually assault him. What do you think about this father’s crimes against his son? Every time you share an AWM story, you help build a home for a disabled veteran.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KWNA) — Democratic Presidential hopefuls will take to the stage for the third Democratic Primary Presidential debate. NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt is one of the moderators alongside meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd, White House Correspondent Hallie Jackson, Noticias Telemundo’s Vanessa Hauc, and Jon Ralston of the Nevada Independent. The debate starts at 8 p.m. central.

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With so many businesses forced to temporarily close due to the spread of COVID-19, distilleries around the country have found a way to help out the people who need it the most.Dread River Distillery in Birmingham, Alabama, and Broad Branch Distillery in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, are among the many distilleries making hand sanitizer instead of alcohol."What we’re doing basically now is taking the high concentration of alcohol that we would normally be throwing away and we’re using that as a product that we can then distribute to the community as a hand sanitizer," Dread River co-owner John Cubilec said.Dread River has donated several bottles to local hospitals and emergency services, while Broad Branch is letting people get two bottles of sanitizer and allowing people to donate money that will go to students and families in need. "When everyone needs you, you’ve got to step up," Broad Branch Distillery's Joe Tappy said.Watch the video above to see the full story. With so many businesses forced to temporarily close due to the spread of COVID-19, distilleries around the country have found a way to help out the people who need it the most. Advertisement Related Content WATCH: How coronavirus cancellations and closures ground life to a halt Dread River Distillery in Birmingham, Alabama, and Broad Branch Distillery in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, are among the many distilleries making hand sanitizer instead of alcohol. "What we’re doing basically now is taking the high concentration of alcohol that we would normally be throwing away and we’re using that as a product that we can then distribute to the community as a hand sanitizer," Dread River co-owner John Cubilec said. Dread River has donated several bottles to local hospitals and emergency services, while Broad Branch is letting people get two bottles of sanitizer and allowing people to donate money that will go to students and families in need. "When everyone needs you, you’ve got to step up," Broad Branch Distillery's Joe Tappy said. Watch the video above to see the full story.

Hide Transcript Show Transcript NEWS. KENNY: CONTINUING COVERAGE OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. SEVERAL BUSINESSES IN THE PIEDMONT TRIAD ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET AS CUSTOMERS ARE ORDERED TO STAY AWAY TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THIS DOG. BRANDON BATES SHOWS US HOW A DISTILLERY IN WINSTON-SALEM IS KEEPING ITS DOORS OPEN AND HELPING OTHERS AT THE SAME TIME. BRANDON: BROAD BRANCH DISTILLERY HAS FOUND A UNIQUE WAY TO SERVE PEOPLE IN NEED. THEY ARE USING THIS DISTILLERY TO MAKE CAN SANITIZER AND GIVING IT AWAY FOR FREE. >> WE HAVE A CAPACITY RIGHT THIS SECOND TO MAKE 9000 BOTTLES. BRANDON: AT A TIME WHEN MOST BUSINESSES ARE QUIET, BROAD BRANCH DISTILLERY IN WINSTON-SALEM IS NOT. >> INCREDIBLY BUSY. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CALLING SAYING, CAN WE HELP? REPORTER: BUT IT’S NOT WHISKEY OR RUM BEING MADE. THEY HAVE CONVERTED THE DISTILLERY AND NOW THEY ARE MAKING HAND SANITIZER. >> YOU HAVE TO STEP UP. REPORTER: WHILE MANY STORES ARE SOLD OUT, BROAD BRANCH WANTS TO HELP OUT WITH HAND SANITIZER. >> WE ALL NEED TO CHIP IN. ONE OF THE WAYS WE CAN DO THINGS IS TO MAKE CAN SANITIZER INSTEAD OF LIQUOR. REPORTER: THE DISTILLERY IS LETTING PEOPLE COME IN AND GET TWO BOTTLES OF SANITIZER AND ALLOWING PEOPLE TO DONATE. THAT MONEY IS GOING TO THE LYNNE H. BERRY SCHOOL BUDDIES FUND. THAT MONEY GOES TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN NEED. >> IT FEELS GOOD. IT FEELS GOOD TO DO GOOD. REPORTER: DISTILLERS HERE SAY EVERYONE NEEDS TO COME TOGETHER NOW AND KEEP DOWNTOWN BUSINESS IN TACT. >> IN THE HARDEST TIMES, EACH OTHER IS WHAT WE HAVE. REPORTER: DISTILLERS HERE SAY THEY’VE GIVEN AWAY HUNDREDS OF BOTTLES AND EVEN GIVEN CHURCHES, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND SCHOOLS HANSEN INCISOR IN BULK. Advertisement Triad distillery using its facility to make hand sanitizer instead of whiskey, rum Share Shares Copy Link Copy Broad Branch Distillery in Winston-Salem is using its facility to make hand sanitizer, instead of whiskey and rum. Click the video player above to learn more about the new whiskey wash The demand for hand sanitizer and other cleaning products has skyrocketed as the coronavirus pandemic has swept the United States. Joe Tappy is a distiller at Broad Branch and said once business slowed down, employees decided they had the time and resources to help people. "We have the capacity right now to make about 9,000 bottles," Tappy said.Workers at the distillery are now focused on mixing the right blend of alcohol and glycerin."When everyone needs you, you have to step up. We’re not going to be able to do this alone, so we all need to chip in in some way. One way we can do things is to make hand sanitizer instead of liquor," he said.The distillery is letting people come in and get two bottles of sanitizer and allowing people to donate. That money is going to the Lynne H. Berry School Buddies Fund. That money goes to students and families in need."It feels good. It feels good to do good," Don Jenkins, a distiller, said. Distillers said everyone needs to come together right now and support local businesses to keep downtown businesses in tact."In the hardest times, each other is what we have," Jenkins said. Broad Branch has been giving individual bottles of sanitizer to people and offering sanitizer in bulk to schools, churches and government agencies.

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Bernie Sanders would have you believe that he is not like the socialists who have ruined Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba and – going back a few years – all of Eastern Europe. Oh sure, he agrees with many of their economic ideas, but don’t worry. He’s a democratic socialist, and that’s different. But it’s not, because democratic socialism doesn’t exist. That’s because it can’t exist, because socialism can’t take hold in a truly democratic system. In order for socialism to “work,” the state has to take control of major industries like health care, energy and manufacturing. It has to confiscate massive amounts of private wealth. It has to control the means of production and distribution. It has to control wages and prices. It has to monopolize things like higher education. That can’t work in a democratic environment because people might run for office who think these things should be controlled by the private sector. Or they might think taxes should be cut. Or they might think the power of the federal government should be limited to what the Constitution says. People like this might get elected, and they might do what they believe should be done. They might privatize the industries, cut the taxes, limit the government. They might make people go out and earn what they need rather than just giving it to them. Candidates like this will be called “demagogues” by socialist overlords and their media cheerleaders, but they are only advocating for the system that made America the world’s most prosperous nation over the course of more than two decades. Many voters will find their message appealing. They might actually gain power. And if they do, socialism is history. In fact, given the inevitable failure that socialism produces, this scenario is inevitable in any country that tries socialism and maintains democratic institutions. As soon as the voters have the opportunity to elect new leaders who will get rid of socialist laws and institutions, they will do it. That is why socialists always establish systems in which their socialism can’t be taken down. They either put an end to free elections or they write the laws in such a way that they’re impossible to repeal even when new leadership comes to power. Consider the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which was created through a law written by Elizabeth Warren . The CFPB has unprecedented power to sue and investigate banks and private companies. During the Obama administration, it was allowed to run wild. But Warren wrote the enabling law in such a way that Congress can’t cut its funding, which comes directly from the Federal Reserve. She also wrote it to make it almost impossible for a president to fire the director. Indeed, when Obama-appointed director Richard Cordray stepped down several months into the Trump administration , he actually tried to name his own replacement. That didn’t work, but it took a court battle to stop it. This is the sort of thing socialists do all the time to make sure they don’t lose power, no matter what happens in elections, assuming elections are even allowed to happen. They will burrow into the bureaucracy. They will find friendly judges to overrule duly elected officials or the people. Socialists never give up an inch of power once they attain it, which makes “democracy” meaningless in a socialist system. There are no democratic socialists. You are either democratic, or you’re a socialist. Bernie Sanders is a socialist, and if he’s given power, he and his socialist allies will never give it up.

From Common Dreams When there is a conflict between big business and the public good, on labor rights, consumer rights, small taxpayer respect, and environmental protections, Bernie has stood with the people. Bernie Sanders, unlike other potential 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, has a message that resonates with a wide variety of people. (Image by (Photo: Paul Weaver / Flickr)) Details DMCA It isn't un-American for voters to do some homework before voting. Here's a "concise guide" for the voter with limited time who might want more information. The corporate Democratic Partiers keep questioning the electability of candidates they do not like, namely Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Really? These leading progressives are absurdly presumed to be "unelectable" compared to Trump? Consider an election where Bernie is up against Trump. The differences are night and day. Start with the all-important issue of character. Trump lies every day, tweeting misinformation and falsifying what is and what is not going on in our country. Just as bad, Trump's tactics rely entirely on lying about or misrepresenting what he is doing to handle large and small problems. Trump has made over 16,000 false or misleading claims since January 2017. Bernie bluntly tells the truth. Trump is a bigot/racist who uses dog whistles to promote, implement, and enforce racist policies. Bernie is a civil rights fighter going back to the nineteen sixties. Bernie respects women and champions their causes. Donald is a savage sexual predator; has boasted about his sexual conquests, and was a serial adulterer. Bernie talks of peace and rule of law. Donald incites violence and believes in the rule of raw power by a president who is lawless and daily violates our Constitution. Recall his ominous declaration that "I have an Article 2 where I have the right to do whatever I want as president." Compare what Trump and Sanders do in public office. When there is a conflict between big business and the public good, on labor rights, consumer rights, small taxpayer respect, and environmental protections, Bernie has stood with the people. Bernie has the best Congressional record of fighting corporate abuses. Meanwhile, Trump, really a corporation masquerading as a human being, works to line the pockets of corporate fat cats. Bernie fights for unions, living wages, and workplace safety; Donald hates unions, and has no problem freezing the $7.25 per hour minimum wage and dismantling serious worker health and safety protections. Bernie is a consumer champion who wants to cancel crushing student loan debt and reverse the dangerous outsourcing of production of medicine to China, leaving us defenseless. Trump is close to shutting down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other consumer safety agencies such as National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For three years he crazily pushed cuts for health and pandemic research. It took a spreading coronavirus for him to face reality and his response has been too little, too late. Trump was a corporate welfare king with a failed gambling business who used, in his brazen words, "bankruptcy as a competitive advantage." He's busy shoveling all kinds of subsidies, giveaways, bailouts, and giant tax escapes to profitable big companies, at the expense of smaller taxpayers. Bernie is strongly against most of this corporate "socialism for the rich." On the environment, Bernie has a good, though not perfect, record. Trump has no problem with deadly corporate pollution -- such as coal ash, mercury, methane, diesel particulates degrading your health. Trump is preventing federal efforts from combating climate disruptions, talks about "clean, beautiful coal," and even forbids the use of the term "climate change" (which he believes is a hoax). Bernie campaigns all over the country talking about public investments in climate preparedness -- paid for by restoration of corporate taxes that Trump would like to further cut. Only by using all available resources can the U.S. contain immensely costly runaway fires, floods, tornadoes, droughts, and already rising sea levels caused by climate disruption. Bernie releases his tax returns while Trump hides them and gets a major tax cut for his family through Congress. Donald says he's never done anything wrong and never needs to apologize. Bernie recognizes his mistakes when he is wrong. Donald breaks promises -- on lower drug prices, on cleaner air and water, on more manufacturing jobs, and on expanded health care insurance. Trump has, in fact, actively damaged the environment and hurt these workers and consumers. Next Page 1 | 2

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On February 28, federal prosecutors will announce whether they plan to retry four people who spent 37 days in the Venezuelan embassy in Washington, D.C., in the spring of 2019 to protect it from an illegal invasion by the U.S. government. The first trial of Adrienne Pine, Margaret Flowers, Kevin Zeese and David Paul, who were charged with “interfering with the protective functions” of the State Department, ended in a hung jury on February 14. The Trump administration has been trying to engineer a coup d’état against the lawfully elected Venezuelan government of Nicolás Maduro and install the U.S. puppet Juan Guaidó. To that end, Washington continues to impose unlawful, punishing sanctions against Venezuela that have contributed to “the largest economic collapse in a country outside of war since at least the 1970s,” according to The New York Times. The sanctions have led to the deaths of at least 40,000 Venezuelans. On February 13, Venezuela filed a complaint against the United States in the International Criminal Court, claiming that the sanctions constitute crimes against humanity. Pine, Flowers, Zeese and Paul, who are members of the Embassy Protection Collective, stayed in the embassy with permission of the Venezuelan government until U.S. law enforcement illegally evicted them on May 16, 2019. They were part of a group of 70 people. The rest had left after the U.S. government cut off water and electricity and refused to allow food into the embassy. The embassy raid violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which forbids U.S. agents from entering the Venezuelan embassy without the consent of the Maduro government. The raid also violated the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR), which requires that the U.S. government “respect and protect the consular premises,” including the property therein. The VCCR provides that if diplomatic relations between Venezuela and the United States are broken, they could agree to entrust the custody of the embassy to a third country. Although such a protecting power agreement was being negotiated by the United States, Venezuela, Switzerland and Turkey, the U.S. government opted instead to storm the embassy and arrest the protectors. At trial, Chief Judge Beryl Howell refused to admit significant relevant evidence. She limited what the jury heard to events that took place between May 13, when a trespass notice was served on the protectors in the embassy, through their May 16 arrest. Flowers spoke to two jurors after the trial — the foreperson who voted to convict and a lawyer who voted to acquit. “They were very curious about the facts of the case. They were totally confused,” Flowers told Truthout. “When I explained that Maduro is the president, not Guaidó, and that this is a failed U.S. coup and the U.S. violated international law by raiding the embassy, the foreperson said she would have voted to acquit us in two minutes if she had known the full story.” The judge excluded that evidence because she thought “it would confuse the jury,” Flowers said. “In the end, it was the absence of those facts that created confusion. The jury said that the case didn’t make sense to them.” The judge advised the jury that Guaidó was president of Venezuela because of a law that says the U.S. president decides whom to recognize as the leader of a foreign government. For more than a year, Trump has been trying to carry out illegal regime change in Venezuela. In a moment of rare (but shameful) bipartisanship, Trump was given a standing ovation by Democratic as well as Republican members of Congress during his 2020 State of the Union address when he introduced Guaidó as the president of Venezuela. “The foreperson said she would have voted to acquit us in two minutes if she had known the full story.” Trump’s federal prosecutors will in all likelihood retry the four embassy protectors. “A second trial raises the stakes for the Trump administration,” Ajamu Baraka, co-chair of the Venezuelan Embassy Protectors Defense Committee, said in a statement. “The world is seeing the charade of a trial based on the false claim that Guaidó is president when he has not been president for one nanosecond and is no longer even the president of the National Assembly. A second prosecution will look vindictive and a second mistrial or an acquittal will be a blow to the failed coup which is already on its last legs.” Meanwhile, the U.S. government continues to mount a campaign of aggression against Venezuela. Frustrated with its inability to execute regime change, the Trump administration is reportedly considering a naval blockade to overthrow the Maduro government. A military blockade would violate the United Nations Charter, which forbids the use or threat of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another country. And the Charter of the Organization of American States prohibits a nation from intervening in the internal or external affairs of another country. Whether the four protectors are ultimately retried, the Embassy Protection Collective has focused international attention on the Trump administration’s illegal attempts to change Venezuela’s government and punishment of its people with unlawful sanctions. The Embassy Protectors Defense Committee is calling for all charges to be dropped against the four protectors and is seeking support for their legal defense. Both the White House and members of Congress should be confronted over the illegal and immoral aggression that the U.S. is perpetrating against the people of Venezuela. Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.

A jury of 12 Washington D.C. residents were deadlocked over the issue of the embassy defenders on February 14, forcing the judge to declare a mistrial in a blow to the federal government and to a judicial system that stacked the odds. The embassy defenders – Adrienne Pine, Margaret Flowers, Kevin Zeese and David Paul – had been accused of “interfering with the protective functions” of the State Department after they, as part of the Embassy Protection Collective, had spent 37 days in the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington DC from April 11-May 16, protecting it from an illegal takeover by the U.S.-backed supporters of Juan Guaidó. Chief Judge Beryl Howell overtly favored the prosecution by severely limiting the scope of the case, ruling that the defendants were limited to speaking only about events between May 13 and May 16. For context, the Embassy Protection Collective began staying in the building on April 11. All was peaceful until April 30, when coup supporters surrounded the Embassy and attacked the embassy protectors with physical and verbal abuse, as well as death threats, and were put under a joint siege by the police and coup supporters (the latter of which did all they could to prevent food from being delivered into the premises). On May 8 the electricity and water were cut off. On May 13, they received a trespass “notice” (a piece of paper with no official letterhead, signature or seal that was most likely written in Spanish and translated) and were asked – but not ordered – to leave the premises by police. On May 16, they were arrested, when, in violation of international law, federal agents in swat-style gear raided the Venezuelan Embassy. Judge Howell’s pre-trial decisions to severely limit the defense from putting the arrest in context ensured a bias that many observers considered impossible to overcome in a jury trial. The embassy defenders were not allowed to say that Nicolás Maduro is the president of Venezuela. They were not allowed to talk about international law, including the Vienna Convention (which prohibits entry into another country’s embassy, even in times of war). They were not allowed to talk about the protecting power agreement (an agreement for third countries to ensure the safety of embassies in Caracas and D.C.) that was being negotiated by the U.S., Switzerland, Turkey and Venezuela. They were not allowed to mention that President Maduro, Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, Vice Minister Carlos Ron and U.N. Ambassador Samuel Moncada had all authorized their stay in the embassy. They were not allowed to discuss the fact that the Trump and Maduro administrations had been in contact throughout April and May. They were not allowed to discuss the blatant cooperation between law enforcement and Guaidó supporters in D.C. They were not allowed to discuss Guaidó’s corruption and connections to paramilitary drug cartels. They were not allowed to question Guaidó’s legitimacy. In short, they were not allowed to tell the whole truth. The partiality on brazen display against citizens who are supposedly presumed to be innocent made it clear that the justice system was doing its best to ensure justice would be denied – a true kangaroo court. Its subservience to the Trump administration’s crazy attempt to install an unelected president made this a court that supports regime change and a coup: a kanga-coup court. That this trial resulted in a hung jury means that U.S. citizens saw through the farce, just as Venezuelans saw through the farce represented by Juan Guaidó. “Elections mean something” In explaining that the U.S. constitution supposedly grants the president authority to recognize a foreign government, the judge defended this concept by claiming “elections mean something.” Those of us in the audience found it hard not to laugh out loud. Elections mean something, except when a U.S. adversary wins and the U.S. then decides to just name someone else president, as in the case of Venezuela. In a courtroom in which the judge had ruled that “Boliviarian” Republic of Venezuela was too confusing and therefore the country was to only be referred to as Venezuela, the “president” of Venezuela is Juan Guaidó and the question isn’t up for debate. This isn’t surprising, given that Guaidó recently attended the State of the Union, was applauded by Representative Nancy Pelosi and other “regime change” Democrats, met with President Trump, Vice President Pence, Secretary of State Pompeo, USAID administrator Mark Green, OAS Secretary General Almagro and had a 2-3 thousand people rally in Miami. The reality, of course, is wildly different inside Venezuela. There, after his “successful” global tour, he was greeted at a rally by merely 500 people, which is actually a big improvement to rallies just a few months where he was cursing the fact that same dozen or two “jerks” were the only ones to show up to events. At the height of Guaidós’s popularity (roughly 2014-2015), the opposition drew massive crowds of tens of thousands. Pro-government rallies routinely turn out tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. While Guaidó may have looked presidential during his U.S. tour, the façade was broken within minutes of landing in Venezuela. Airlines workers of Conviasa, which was recently sanctioned by Trump, confronted him at the airport, leaving him shaken and drenched in sweat—a “’president” afraid of his own people. That Guaidó has fallen so low is an indictment of an extremist right-wing opposition that seeks to punish the working class by supporting sanctions, sabotage of basic services (last week a warehouse containing telecommunications equipment was set on fire, while the next day a Metro line was out of service after a cable line was cut), and threats of war. Incompetence mirrors incompetence The failure of Guaidó, the opposition and the Trump administration is also indicative of their incompetence and utter confusion regarding the reality of Venezuela. This incompetence mirrors the incompetence of the U.S. government in the sham trial of the embassy defenders. Prosecutors attempted to pull a bait and switch on the jury, building their case on an allegation that the final four – las Margaret, Kevin, David and Adrienne are affectionately called – were trespassing in the Embassy, while the actual charge was a misdemeanor for “interfering with protective functions.” At least some members of the jury were clearly perplexed by this, asking the judge for clarification of whether trespassing could be perceived as interfering. Although the answer should have been a clear “no”, the judge obfuscated and left them more confused than before they asked the question. The jurors then brought up a seeming contradiction between the law and the judge’s instructions. The law regarding interfering with protective functions requires that alleged perpetrators “knowingly and willfully” interfered, while the judge instructed the jury that the defendants did not have to have knowledge of the statute in order to be convicted. One observer characterized the judge’s response to the jury on this issue as “a riddle.” A bewildering judge and a bumbling prosecution led to a deadlocked jury. Three jurors voted to acquit, and they must be praised for recognizing that the government was trying to railroad the defendants. It offers proof that people of conscience can thwart a government intent on criminalizing peace activism. We should also recognize the defendant’s four lawyers, who managed to instill reasonable doubt against all odds. The Embassy Protection Collective (EPC) brought people’s power to Washington, and it was only fitting that it was people’s power on the jury that led to a mistrial. Unfortunately, the mistrial is not quite the end of this ordeal. The final four have one last status hearing to determine if the prosecution will retry the case. David, Margaret, Kevin and Adrienne are deserving of our full solidarity and support. For me, as a Venezuelan who has spent the past dozen years helping my country fight U.S. imperialism, what these four people did, as well as what the entire Embassy Protection Collective did, has earned them my gratitude and admiration. It has also left me hopeful and inspired that we can build a movement in the United States to challenge a foreign policy of war and profits, replacing it with one of peace and dialogue. * Note to readers: please click the share buttons above or below. Forward this article to your email lists. Crosspost on your blog site, internet forums. etc. Leonardo Flores is Latin American policy expert and campaigner with CODEPINK. Featured image: David Paul, Margaret Flowers, Adrienne Pine and Kevin Zeese outside of their courtroom in D.C.

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Turkey begins 4-day coronavirus curfew in 31 provinces ANKARA- Anadolu Agency Turkey began enforcing a four-day curfew in 31 provinces as of midnight April 22 to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. The curfew notice, sent in a circular by the Interior Ministry to the governors of the provinces, was ordered in the capital Ankara as well as Adana, Antalya, Aydın, Balıkesir, Bursa, Denizli, Diyarbakır, Erzurum, Eskişehir, Gaziantep, Hatay, İstanbul, İzmir, Kahramanmaraş, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Konya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mersin, Muğla, Ordu, Sakarya, Samsun, Şanlıurfa, Tekirdağ, Trabzon, Van and Zonguldak. According to the circular, bakeries, hospitals, pharmacies and workplaces producing health products and medical supplies will continue to operate. Markets and grocery stores will operate from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 23-24 due to the beginning of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. They will be closed on April 25 and 26. People who work in certain job sectors will be exempted. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on April 20 that Turkey planned to extend its curfew over the weekend in 31 provinces as part of measures against the virus. April 23 is a public holiday commemorating the foundation of Turkey’s parliament and the country also observes National Sovereignty Day and Children’s Day every year. For the first time, Turkey imposed a 48-hour curfew in 31 provinces across the country on April 11-12 as part of measures to combat COVID-19.

Turkey lifts 3-day coronavirus curfew in 31 provinces ANKARA- Anadolu Agency Turkey lifted a 72-hour curfew as of midnight on May 3, which had been imposed in 31 provinces to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. The government enforced its fourth weekend-long stay-at-home order, which included the May 1 International Labour Day holiday. Turkish citizens in 31 provinces followed the curfew by and large staying at their homes, said the Interior Ministry in a statement on May 3. Judicial or administrative proceedings were applied for 27,828 people who broke the curfew between May 1 and May 3, the ministry added. The country's first curfew was implemented on April 11-12. The curfew was effective in the capital Ankara as well as Adana, Antalya, Aydın, Balıkesir, Bursa, Denizli, Diyarbakır, Erzurum, Eskişehir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Istanbul, Izmir, Kahramanmaraş, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Konya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mersin, Muğla, Ordu, Sakarya, Samsun, Şanlıurfa, Tekirdağ, Trabzon, Van and Zonguldak. Turkey followed 3-day virus restrictions: Ministry The Turkish public largely complied with the three-day restrictions taken in 31 provinces to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Interior Ministry said on May 3. In a statement, the ministry said that although most people adopted the stay-at-home rules, judicial or administrative proceedings were applied for 27,828 people who broke the three-day curfew. The ministry also said that the quarantine was lifted at 247 residential areas in 54 provinces. Calling on citizens to observe social distancing rules and isolation, the ministry urged people to wear masks in necessary places. Despite positive results thanks to measures, the ministry said: “The danger of the pandemic has not passed yet.”

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I never thought I’ll live through a global historical event. With the history unraveling in my city. Impacting in the mundane minutia of my life. The whole thing unfolded in rapid slow motion. First there was the pure “international news” item. A place in China most have never heard of. Wet markets and the harsh boot of government. Fuss about the travel restrictions snowballing. The panic about catching colds on planes. From that it accelerated to curfews, working from home, client accounts dying. Now it IS a global economic depression. What shocks me are people talking about “getting back” to “normal”. I’m not sure how the people who think they can survive it will make it through. The normal predictabilities of the past are gone. The time called “when this is over” is on the other side of an unknown. What state we’ll be in when this passes is speculation. That unknown is the scariest IF you want to waste energy in the futility of speculation. There is hope : the only reason economic activity has stopped is because of the disease. Not because a bunch of people put money they didn’t have on a Ponzi scheme. When the COVID19 crisis has passed, the motive for that activity will be released. The awakening will have its own pace. I’ll be happy to crawl out with the health and safety of everyone intact. Till then, hope you stay safe and well.

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Thailand has become the first country outside of China to report a case of a pneumonia-like virus which has already affected dozens of people. Authorities quarantined a tourist in the country who flew in from China’s Wuhan province, where most cases of the virus originated. Is the Chinese outbreak deadly? The latest illness to surface in China is a coronavirus, a species of disease with several strains. Among viruses in the family is the deadly SARS, a respiratory disease which broke out in China from 2002 to 2003 and killed more than 700 people worldwide. Other viruses within the species are less dangerous and present with the severity of the common cold. READ MORE: Measles outbreak CRISIS: Ebola overshadows deadly disease

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Today’s Forecast: April 3, 2020 Temperatures will drop into the mid 40s tonight with mostly cloudy skies and slightly breezy winds. Saturday will consist of mostly cloudy skies and slightly cooler temperatures in the mid 50s. Sunday will be partly sunny and seasonable with milder highs in the low 60s. Monday will be mostly sunny and pleasant with highs reaching the upper 60s. Partly sunny skies are in the forecast on Tuesday with highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s. An isolated shower is possible. Temperatures will stay in the upper 60s to lower 70s on Wednesday with partly sunny skies and isolated showers. The partly sunny skies and isolated showers continue into Thursday with highs in the mid 60s. Friday will be mostly sunny and cooler with highs falling back into the 50s. Have a great weekend! -Daniel

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) - Western Siouxland got to see a nice amount of sunshine today while the clouds still hung tough to the east with mild temperatures close to average. Clouds will thicken up tonight leaving us all under mostly cloudy skies with lows in the upper 50s. Thursday is looking like a very nice day as we’ll start with morning clouds but see some afternoon clearing with highs in the mid to upper 70s. A little cooler weather is then going to move in on Friday with highs in the low 70s under partly cloudy skies. Chances of light rain return to the forecast Saturday which will keep highs well below average in the mid 60s. Most of the rain chances should move out Saturday night but Sunday will still stay mostly cloudy with highs in the low 70s. A warming trend is then going to kick in for the beginning of the workweek as highs by Monday get into the low 80s with mid to upper 80s possible both Tuesday and Wednesday. The early part of next week is looking mostly dry at this point.

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NEW DELHI: Awareness and not anxiety is the key to fighting the coronavirus pandemic, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Sunday at the launch of ‘COVID BEEP’, the country’s first indigenous wireless physiological parameters monitoring system for the affected patients. Singh also said COVID BEEP would emerge as an effective antidote to the pandemic which the entire world is currently grappling with, a statement issued by the Personnel Ministry said. COVID BEEP, that stands for Continuous Oxygenation & Vital Information Detection Biomed ECIL ESIC Pod, is India’s first indigenous, cost effective, wireless physiological parameters monitoring system for COVID-19 patients, according to the statement. (AGENCIES)

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh delivering the inaugural address after launching, through video conference, India’s first indigenous, cost effective, wireless gadget for COVID-19, developed by ESIC Medical College Hyderabad, on Sunday.

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(CNN) On any given day, the National School Lunch Program provides low-cost or free lunches to 29.7 million children. But the coronavirus pandemic is shutting down schools and parents are scrambling to find ways to feed their hungry kids. Charitable organizations are working to fill the gap, but they need your help. Here are a few organizations you can support: Feeding America runs a network of 200 food banks across the US. The organization set up a "COVID-19 Response Fund" to help food banks aid communities impacted by the pandemic. Save the Children and No Kid Hungry have teamed up with actresses Jennifer Garner and Amy Adams to launch #SAVEWITHSTORIES. The program provides children in America's poorest communities with nutritious meals, books and other learning resources during the outbreak. Blessings in a Backpack normally tries to ensure that free school lunch recipients have something to eat on weekends. During the pandemic, they've teamed up with school districts that have activated summer feeding programs. United Way is using their "COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund" to stock food banks with essential staples to help feed children who rely on schools for meals. World Central Kitchen founder Chef José Andrés closed all of his Washington DC restaurants. But he kept some of his kitchens open to offer discounted meals and free to-go lunches for those who can't afford. Little Free Pantry boxes are standing ready across the US, giving 24-hour neighborhood access to food and other basic necessities. GENYOUth has established the COVID-19 Emergency School Nutrition Fund. The fund will provide grants to school feeding sites for purchasing of supplies for meal distribution and delivery. If you would like to donate to any of the organizations above or other groups making a difference in the coronavirus pandemic, click the button below.

RUSH EXCERPT: COOPER: “Of course he did. He was taken to a bunker and, you know, he’s hiding in a bunker and he’s embarrassed that people know that. So what does he have to do? He has to sick police on peaceful protesters so he can make a big show of being, you know, the little big man walking to a closed-down church. He always talks about the world laughing, laughing at the governors right now. They’re not laughing at the governors. They’re in horror of what is happening. The only people they are laughing at is the president of the United States.”

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Thappad Movie Review: Anubhav Sinha, Taapsee Pannu and her co-stars make one reflect on the sense of male entitlement that is intricately woven into the society’s conscience. Movie Name: Thappad Thappad Director: Anubhav Sinha Thappad Cast: , Pavail Gulati Thappad Stars: 4/5 It’s just a slap. Or is it? Anubhav Sinha’s latest film Thappad is a fluid screenplay that forces the audience to keep questioning itself of the time where we claimed and passed judgement on how women in the society should be more forgiving. The makers explore the risk of alienating audience to a simultaneous-trance to check whether they stand guilty of judging the actions of women through the prism of inconspicuous male entitlement. Anubhav stays clear from the usual trap of creating a shero film based on male-bashing. He uses the script – and ‘minor’ instances – to show a mirror to the society. Thappad is a story of Amrita (Taapsee Pannu) who is content shouldering her responsibility of being a homemaker and taking care of her family. Due to circumstances, she later decides to stand-up for herself even if it means going against her family, her husband and generations of mental conditioning. A slap forms the catalyst for her journey and a metaphor for the stories of many other women caught up in different versions of the same problem. Is one situation worse than the other? Or does one lead to another? This is the quintessential question that Anubhav and team make the viewers to ponder upon. After Mulk and Article 15, Anubhav Sinha manages to impress us with yet another engaging story which is not filmy. Through the film, the makers capture critical and widely talked about issues about marital life like domestic violence, consent after marriage, ego battles, entitlement and day-to-day compromises. It showcases how women are expected to let go of their ambitions, identity and not even feel guilty for it. If Thappad is a breathing script, its soul is Taapsee Pannu. The actor conveys her character (homemaker) with dignity, grace and conviction. She is neither less feminist when she is taking care of the family, nor more when she files for a divorce. There is a beautiful scene where her neighbour buys a new car. Her husband passes a snide remark on the neighbour’s character, questioning what does she even do. Amrita (Taapsee) responds with one word: Mehnat (hard work). Taapsee wins hearts with her expressions which show internal chaos while getting hit by reality. Her character goes through various emotions in every stage of the film, but her performance remains consistent and equally absorbing. Through the film, you sit and wonder when and where did she ditch her bubbly, girl-next-door persona with which she made her debut in Hindi film industry. Of course, her films such as Pink, Manmarziyaan, Badla, etc. exposed her capabilities. However, Thappad takes her to a new zenith. Her character speaks even when she is silent – a mark of a good actor. It would be unfair if we don’t give enough credit for the spectacular choice of co-stars. Pavail Gulati is an excellent choice by the casting team. He is ruthless, self-centred, egoistic and immersed in the male entitlement. Yet he makes his presence felt in front of an actress like Taapsee. He looks real, honest and a perfect reflection of many men from the patriarchal society. Yet, the markers have walked on a strand of hair to not portray him as the ‘evil man’. He is what society made him. Taapsee’s on-screen parents Kumud Mishra and Ratna Pathak Shah are a treat for the viewers. Years of theatre shapes you to own the scene with simple body language and tonality. They are omnipresent. Kumud Mishra lives on screen as a dad many girls need. Ratna Pathak Shah’s innocence adds some refreshing moments to this script. Kumud and Ratna’s on-screen chemistry is adorable. Ram Kapoor shines in his part as a lawyer who understands that winning a case isn’t always about putting forth a fact, but about adhering to the needs of the client. Maya Sarao steals the show with her elegance and acting skill as Taapsee’s lawyer. They don’t pretend to be the moral compass. They counsel their clients on why a legal case may deliver more agony than an amicable solution. Tanvi Azmi is exceptional in emotional scenes who is dealing with her own dissatisfaction with life. Geetika Vidya Ohlyan and Manav Kaul add value to this film. Dia Mirza has a small part to play but brings ease on-screen and convincingly breaks one stereotype at a time. A film is a mere reflection of society. And the moment you conjure the courage to face it by sliding aside those rose-tinted glasses, reality hits you. At one juncture, the engraved sexism of the audience appals them to counter it with unjustifiable justification. Film Thappad is no less. It’s a beautiful depiction of what exists in society. But more critical is its soul which clamours for what must be mended. Frankly, it’s on the audience to understand the gravity of the issue. A solution, for some, might lie in using a plaster, and for others, a surgery. Credits :Pinkvilla Read More

As one of the most talked-about films on the social media, Thappad inches towards the theatres, actor Kumud Mishra showers praises on Taapsee Pannu and director Anubhav Sinha. Kumud Mishra, who portrays the role of Taapsee's on-screen father, lauds the actress and tells Ahmedabad Mirror, "She is instinctive; her acting process keeps changing with the moment, just like mine. She is a fantastic actress and I have never seen her in a role like this. Thappad is one of her finest works." When asked what made him say 'yes' to Thappad, he said 'the brilliant script'. Hinting at domestic violence, Kumud adds, "We pretend that it isn't happening, but it is and unfortunately is considered normal." Directed by Anubhav Sinha, Thappad throws light on domestic violence and how the domestic violence is not only associated with uneducated families. Kumud Mishra, who has earlier worked with Anubhav Sinha in Mulk and Article 15, raves about the director and asserts that despite sharing a close bond with him, he likes to maintain a distance from him to allow the space for dialogue. Is Taapsee Pannu's Thappad A Male-bashing Film? Here's What Actor Pavail Gulati Has To Say Kumud Mishra says, "For an actor, he is a wonderful director as he gives us creative freedom and is open to discussion. Unka alag hi jadoo hai. I'd drop everything to take up a role if he made the offer." Thappad, which marks the second collaboration of Anubhav and Taapsee after Mulk, is all set to hit the theatres on February 28, 2020. The film also casts Dia Mirza, Pavail Gulati, Ratna Pathak Shah, Manav Kaul and Tanvi Azim in the key roles.

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ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences Thousands of people joined Black Lives Matter protests across the country despite Matt Hancock's pleas to obey the coronavirus lockdown. Many wore masks and social distancing measures were encouraged during events in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Sheffield and Newcastle, among other cities. At Friday’s coronavirus news briefing, the Health Secretary warned people against joining the demonstrations this weekend, pointing out “we’re still facing a health crisis and coronavirus remains a real threat”. His message was echoed by Home Secretary Priti Patel on Saturday, who addressed people wanting to protest on Sky News, saying: "Please don't." London: Black Lives Matter George Floyd protest - In pictures 25 show all London: Black Lives Matter George Floyd protest - In pictures 1/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road PA 2/25 Demonstrators hold placards backdropped by the Victoria Memorial, outside Buckingham Palace AP 3/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road PA 4/25 A protester shouts slogans in front of a line of police officers AFP via Getty Images 5/25 People are seen wearing protective face masks as they demonstrate in a car REUTERS 6/25 A demonstrator is seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square REUTERS 7/25 Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placard REUTERS 8/25 Demonstrators are seen kneeling during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square REUTERS 9/25 Demonstrators are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in London REUTERS 10/25 Demonstrators are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in London REUTERS 11/25 Demonstrators are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in London AFP via Getty Images 12/25 Protesters march towards the US Embassy AFP via Getty Images 13/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road PA 14/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road PA 15/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road PA 16/25 Demonstrators hold placards backdropped by the Victoria Memorial, outside Buckingham Palace AP 17/25 Demonstrators block traffic outside Victoria Station AP 18/25 Demonstrators block traffic outside Victoria Station AP 19/25 Youngsters shout slogans during a Black Lives Matter march AP 20/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square PA 21/25 Youngsters shout slogans during a Black Lives Matter march AP 22/25 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images 23/25 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images 24/25 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images 25/25 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images 1/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road PA 2/25 Demonstrators hold placards backdropped by the Victoria Memorial, outside Buckingham Palace AP 3/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road PA 4/25 A protester shouts slogans in front of a line of police officers AFP via Getty Images 5/25 People are seen wearing protective face masks as they demonstrate in a car REUTERS 6/25 A demonstrator is seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square REUTERS 7/25 Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placard REUTERS 8/25 Demonstrators are seen kneeling during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square REUTERS 9/25 Demonstrators are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in London REUTERS 10/25 Demonstrators are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in London REUTERS 11/25 Demonstrators are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in London AFP via Getty Images 12/25 Protesters march towards the US Embassy AFP via Getty Images 13/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road PA 14/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road PA 15/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road PA 16/25 Demonstrators hold placards backdropped by the Victoria Memorial, outside Buckingham Palace AP 17/25 Demonstrators block traffic outside Victoria Station AP 18/25 Demonstrators block traffic outside Victoria Station AP 19/25 Youngsters shout slogans during a Black Lives Matter march AP 20/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square PA 21/25 Youngsters shout slogans during a Black Lives Matter march AP 22/25 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images 23/25 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images 24/25 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images 25/25 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images But people wanted to show solidarity with those in the US campaigning against police brutality following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. They also highlighted incidents when black and ethnic minority people in Britain have been victims of racial discrimination and violence at the hands of police and others. Read more Thousands march through London for George Floyd protest- LIVE In London, most demonstrators who gathered in Parliament Square wore masks and face coverings, with some opting for gloves. Placards carried by demonstrators referenced the coronavirus crisis, with one saying: “There is a virus greater than Covid-19 and it’s called racism.” As the rally began, one organiser used a megaphone to tell the crowds: “We are not here for violence. “Today is sheer positivity, today is sheer love.” Protester Bobbi, 26, from Chingford, London, who did not give her last name, said: “We’re literally living in the history books, we’re going to be teaching our future children about this and I want to say I was here to support that.” Thousands of protesters packed central Manchester. They chanted and clapped in unison and held home-made placards bearing the initials BLM. Several hundred marchers gathered in Newcastle, while thousands more watched an online protest organised in the north-east of England. Demonstrators gathering at the Earl Grey Monument in the city centre were handed masks if they did not have one, while hand sanitiser was available. Dr Christina Mobley, a lecturer who came to Newcastle University from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, attended with her five-year-old daughter. The historian, who is leading the project to decolonise the university curriculum, said: “I absolutely felt the need to be here today. The organisers have done an amazing job. “It is really powerful to see such a young, motivated crowd coming out and organising themselves, handing out masks and working with the police.” She took a photo of one of the police officers who had taken off his helmet during the silence for Mr Floyd. Meanwhile, an online protest organised by Stand Up To Racism – North East drew an audience of several thousand, who listened to speakers including Janet Alder, whose brother Christopher died in police custody in Hull in 1998. In Sheffield, hundreds of people gathered on Devonshire Green to protest and hold a minute’s silence. During the gathering, which included speeches, they chanted: “No justice, no peace, no racist police.”

ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences Lisa Nandy has said that people “cannot be silent in the face of racism and police brutality” as she backed those who are speaking out after the death of George Floyd. Following mass anti-racism protests across the UK on Saturday, the shadow foreign secretary said that tackling the issue requires taking an active stance. Ms Nandy said that she is “proud” of the young people demanding change, while urging them to take precautions when they take part in protests during the coronavirus pandemic. She told the BBC’s Andrew Marr programme: “I think it’s one of the most important things about living in a free society is that people can go out and protest. “I’ve said repeatedly that it must be safe, people should social distance – please take precautions – but I’m very proud of those young people who are coming out and speaking up. Read more Hundreds to descend on London for new Black Lives Matter rally- LIVE “Now I’m someone who has lived with racism in my life, I’ve seen it with my family, I’ve seen it in our country and I think it requires you to take an active stance against it. “You cannot be silent in the face of racism and police brutality, and I think those young people are right to raise their voices and to demand change.” Ms Nandy also appealed to the small number of people who have used violence at the Black Lives Matter protests to stop. London: Black Lives Matter George Floyd protest - In pictures 25 show all London: Black Lives Matter George Floyd protest - In pictures 1/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road PA 2/25 Demonstrators hold placards backdropped by the Victoria Memorial, outside Buckingham Palace AP 3/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road PA 4/25 A protester shouts slogans in front of a line of police officers AFP via Getty Images 5/25 People are seen wearing protective face masks as they demonstrate in a car REUTERS 6/25 A demonstrator is seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square REUTERS 7/25 Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placard REUTERS 8/25 Demonstrators are seen kneeling during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square REUTERS 9/25 Demonstrators are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in London REUTERS 10/25 Demonstrators are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in London REUTERS 11/25 Demonstrators are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in London AFP via Getty Images 12/25 Protesters march towards the US Embassy AFP via Getty Images 13/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road PA 14/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road PA 15/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road PA 16/25 Demonstrators hold placards backdropped by the Victoria Memorial, outside Buckingham Palace AP 17/25 Demonstrators block traffic outside Victoria Station AP 18/25 Demonstrators block traffic outside Victoria Station AP 19/25 Youngsters shout slogans during a Black Lives Matter march AP 20/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square PA 21/25 Youngsters shout slogans during a Black Lives Matter march AP 22/25 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images 23/25 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images 24/25 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images 25/25 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images 1/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road PA 2/25 Demonstrators hold placards backdropped by the Victoria Memorial, outside Buckingham Palace AP 3/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road PA 4/25 A protester shouts slogans in front of a line of police officers AFP via Getty Images 5/25 People are seen wearing protective face masks as they demonstrate in a car REUTERS 6/25 A demonstrator is seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square REUTERS 7/25 Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placard REUTERS 8/25 Demonstrators are seen kneeling during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square REUTERS 9/25 Demonstrators are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in London REUTERS 10/25 Demonstrators are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in London REUTERS 11/25 Demonstrators are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in London AFP via Getty Images 12/25 Protesters march towards the US Embassy AFP via Getty Images 13/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road PA 14/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road PA 15/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road PA 16/25 Demonstrators hold placards backdropped by the Victoria Memorial, outside Buckingham Palace AP 17/25 Demonstrators block traffic outside Victoria Station AP 18/25 Demonstrators block traffic outside Victoria Station AP 19/25 Youngsters shout slogans during a Black Lives Matter march AP 20/25 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square PA 21/25 Youngsters shout slogans during a Black Lives Matter march AP 22/25 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images 23/25 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images 24/25 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images 25/25 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Asked what she would say to those who verbally abused and threw objects at police, she said: “I would say to them it’s wrong, stop it. “And more than that, as well as it just being completely wrong to attack police officers who are trying to keep the peace, many of whom are deeply sympathetic with the sentiment behind these protests, who are struggling as well to deal with Covid and help to keep public order in a really unprecedented situation, it also has the effect of dampening the voices of those who are calling for change. “Because the newspapers this morning, the headlines were dominated by the fact that there was violence, a small number using violence at the London protest. “And actually across this country and across the world, you’ve got people coming out in the tens of thousands to protest peacefully and to raise their voices for change, and they’re the voices that I want to hear.” The Labour MP for Wigan also said the UK Government cannot remain silent on police brutality in the United States. “I actually think this is a deliberate election strategy,” she said of the actions being taken by US President Donald Trump. “Now I’ve no idea whether Donald Trump is a racist or not a racist, what I do know is that in the run-up to the American elections, this is one of the ways that politicians try to activate their base. “They divide people in order to try to advance their own cause and that’s actually one of the things that is so damaging about it. “That’s crept into our politics in Britain in the last few years and we’re seeing under the cover of Covid, other countries trying to do something similar – rowing back on people’s freedoms, human rights, the rule of law, democracy. “And that’s one of the reasons why I’ve said this Government cannot remain silent in the face of that.”

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Slowly but surely, European countries are starting to renouncing coal, one of the most polluting energy sources available. Credit Wikipedia Commons Sweden just became the third European country to leave coal behind, following Belgium and Austria. The country decided to shut down its last remaining coal plant two years before the scheduled closure, signaling a strong intent to shift to renewable energy. The coal plant is located in eastern Stockholm and owned by Stockholm Exergi, a company part-owned by the City of Stockholm. The decision was described by the company as a “milestone” and will help lower the greenhouse gas emissions of the country. ADVERTISEMENT “This plant has provided the Stockholmers with heat and electricity for a long time — today we know that we must stop using all fossil fuels, therefore the coal needs to be phased out and we did so several years before the original plan,” Anders Egelrud, chief executive of Stockholm Exergi, said in a statement. The company first aimed to close the plant in 2022, gradually reducing its output. But the deadline was met sooner, mainly thanks to a lower electricity demand due to a mild winter in Sweden — instead of waiting for another two years, better close it now and save the emissions. Thanks to the move, Stockholm, Sweden’s capital, is a step closer to having its district heating produced only by renewable or recycled energy by 2030. Many European cities use district heating instead of localized boilers, as it increases efficiency and reduces pollution. “Since Stockholm was almost totally fossil-dependent 30-40 years ago, we have made enormous changes and now we are taking the step away from carbon dependence and continuing the journey towards an energy system entirely based on renewable and recycled energy,” Egelrud added. Sweden’s decision advances Europe’s movement away from coal. Belgium became the first EU country to phase out coal for heating and power in 2016. Austria followed this year, closing its last coal-fired plant – which powered a district heating network in the municipality of Mellach. Seven more countries are expected to end coal by 2025: France (2022), Slovakia (2023), Portugal (2023), the UK (2024), Ireland (2025) and Italy (2025), according to Europe Beyond Coal. They are expected to be followed by Greece (2028), the Netherlands (2029), Finland (2029), Hungary (2030), and Denmark (2030). ADVERTISEMENT There are ongoing discussions in the Czech Republic, Spain and North Macedonia about when to exit coal-fired electricity. Germany has said it will put its last coal plant offline by 2038, a commitment that still has to be firmed up in the country’s coal exit law. “Against the backdrop of the serious health challenges we are currently facing, leaving coal behind in exchange for renewables is the right decision and will repay us in kind with improved health, climate protection and more resilient economies,” Kathrin Gutmann, campaign director for Europe Beyond Coal, told PV Magazine. Leaving fossil fuels behind isn’t good just for the planet, it’s also an economically smart move, as the costs of renewables are dropping across the globe. A study by Carbon Tracker showed coal developers could end up losing up to $600 billion as renewable energy is now cheaper than coal energy in many countries.

Austria officially closed its last coal-fired power plant on Friday (17 April), becoming the second EU country to exit coal after Belgium in 2016. The definitive closure of Verbund’s Mellach coal-fired district heating plant was announced last year after relentless campaigning by climate activists Global 2000. The plant stopped operating on Friday after the end of the heating season. The closure is “a historic step”, said Leonore Gewessler, Austria’s minister for climate action, environment, energy and mobility. “By 2030, we will convert to 100% green electricity,” she added. Austria has now become the second EU country to halt coal burning for electricity production after Belgium closed its last coal power plant in 2016. “Austria is ending coal burning while supporting the uptake of renewable energy and the European Green New Deal,” said Kathrin Gutmann, campaign director for Europe Beyond Coal, a campaign group. “With Austria going coal-free today, it becomes clear that the momentum to leave coal behind has not slowed, despite the significant health and economic challenges we’re facing,” Gutmann said in a statement. However, Austria is not yet entirely coal-free yet, activists remarked. Voestalpine’s steelworks blast furnace is now the country’s number one CO2 emitter, said Dave Jones, an analyst at climate think-tank Ember. Really good news! But Austria is nowhere close to coal-free…@Voestalpine's Linz coal blast furnace steelworks is Austria's #1 CO2 emitter, biggest EU steel emitter, and #12 biggest total emitter in EU. We also need a pathway to coal-free steel… https://t.co/yOPRnLymFp — Dave Jones (@CoalFreeDave) April 17, 2020 Seven more countries are expected to follow suit by 2025, including France (2022), Sweden (2022), Slovakia (2023), Portugal (2023), the UK (2024), Ireland (2025) and Italy (2025), according to Europe Beyond Coal. They will be followed by Greece (2028), the Netherlands (2029), Finland (2029), Hungary (2030), and Denmark (2030). And discussions are currently underway in the Czech Republic, Spain and North Macedonia about when to exit coal-fired electricity. Germany has announced it will put its last coal plant offline by 2038, a commitment that still has to become official with the country’s coal exit law. [Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic]

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MILWAUKEE (WKOW) -- The Wisconsin Alumni Association says one of the five people killed at Molson Coors in Milwaukee was a graduate of UW-Madison. The Alumni Association says Trevor Wetselaar graduated from the university in 2009. The 33-year-old Wetselaar was most recently living in Milwaukee, according to Milwaukee police. The Wisconsin Alumni Association released the following statement Thursday night: "The Wisconsin Alumni Association, along with Badgers around the world, are mourning the loss of UW-Madison alum Trevor Wetselaar. We send our thoughts and prayers to Trevor’s family and friends, as well as to the loved ones of the other victims killed at Molson Coors in Milwaukee." Police identified the four other victims as:

Cochrane- Fountain City School District Superintendent Michele Butler says the school district has terminated Heather Treague’s employment following an investigation into nude photos sent to a student. According to a criminal complaint, Heather Treague, 34, allegedly sent 10 nude photos over Snapchat to a student. These photos were allegedly sent outside of school hours. Treague’s signature bond has been set at $5,000 and she is not to have contact with any minors other than her own. She is scheduled to appear in court next on March, 4.

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We report a simple synthetic method and the unique properties of four types of individual NPs that are well-dispersed in polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) from the core to the shell without the formation of alloy or core–shell NPs. Additionally, this result cannot be achieved by conventional methods. By mixing and heating PEs with metal precursors, individual metal NPs stabilized by PEs were synthesized. The four types of individual metal NP-containing PECs were prepared by mixing anionic and cationic PEs involving individual metal NPs. The individual metal NPs were homogeneously distributed within the polymer particles, and their contents were easily tuned by varying the loading fractions of the individual metal NP-containing PEs. The as-obtained PEC–Au/Pt/Ag/Pd (separate entities) exhibited promising performance for surface enhanced Raman scattering ( SERS ) and catalytic activities, which was further enhanced when the four types of metals demonstrated different optimal composition in comparison to the mixed types, such as the alloy or core–shell NPs. Our results also show that it is necessary to tune the types or individual metal contents of the multi-metallic complexes (individual, alloy, or core–shell) for the control or application of certain properties.

Stable, high-index facet Re nanoparticles have been grown by a solid state synthetic method, negating the need for solutions or surfactants to control seeding, supracrystallization and NP shape. By using mixtures of K[ReO 4 ] and the cyclic triphosphazene [NP(O 2 C 12 H 8 )] 3 , high-index facet nanoparticles and nanocrystals ∼3 nm in size can be seeded and grown from drop-cast films and powders due to phase demixing of the metallopolymer. NP dispersions are formed directly within a carbon support that liquefies, allowing NP coarsening and ripening, and the eventual formation of a solidified graphitic support filled with crystals. Successful growth of mesoscale supracrystals of Re also occurs from ripening of nucleated NP seeds, incubated within a solidified and partially dewetted solid support that patterns the surface. The supported Re NP dispersions also exhibit surface enhanced Raman scattering within a graphitic matrix.

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COVID-19: Koln trio test positive By Football Italia staff German side Koln have announced that three members of staff have tested positive for coronavirus. Koln returned to training on April 6 along with several other Bundesliga clubs, doing so in small groups and with hygiene measures enforced so as to limit the spread of COVID-19. However, they released a statement on Friday evening confirming they had three positive tests. The unnamed trio have not showed any symptoms and will now go into self-isolation for two weeks, undergoing more tests in the meantime. Despite that, Koln say group training ‘can continue as planned’, with Tim Meyer – head of the Bundesliga’s coronavirus taskforce – in full support. “We now see in everyday life that our concept recognises and reduces risks at an early stage,” Meyer, who holds a similar position for UEFA, told the club’s official website. “We will always be in close contact with the responsible health authorities and medical experts. “We are convinced that with our concept, we can enable players to practice their profession with the best possible protection against infection.” Watch Serie A live in the UK on Premier Sports for just £11.99 per month including live LaLiga, Eredivisie, Scottish Cup Football and more. Visit: https://subscribe.premiersports.tv/

Koln announce 'quarantine camps' By Football Italia staff Just two days after three members of staff tested positive for COVID-19, German side Koln say they are ready to hold quarantine training camps. Koln players have been back training since April 6, participating in individual sessions at the club’s sports complex. They suffered a setback on Friday, when it emerged three members of staff had contracted COVID-19. However, the Bundesliga outfit insist they can restart team training ‘in a protected location’ once politicians allow the campaign to get going again. “Earlier than is planned in the DFL medical concept, FC [Koln] will move into a training camp with the team,” read a club statement. “The prerequisite is that politicians give their approval to continue the season. “1. FC Köln will enter into team training, should it be permitted, under the conditions of a training camp. “This applies as soon as politicians make a positive decision to continue the Bundesliga season – in the course of the coming week at the earliest. “The team, coaching and backroom staff will then come together for team training in a protected location. “This form of voluntary quarantine extends the existing infection control and hygiene concept and is intended to further reduce the risk of infection from COVID-19. “The measure will be/has been taken regardless of the results of the COVID-19 tests at FC. “The concept of the Task Force Sports Medicine/Extraordinary Matchday Operation of the DFL already provides that all teams go to quarantine-like training camps one week before the games restart. “FC [Koln], however, prefer to start this period at the beginning of team training.” Watch Serie A live in the UK on Premier Sports for just £11.99 per month including live LaLiga, Eredivisie, Scottish Cup Football and more. Visit: https://subscribe.premiersports.tv/

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Hello, We are preparing to move our environment to a new facility where we have installed a similar vCenter environment to our current one to where there is 1 vCenter 6.7 with 7 hosts. We have setup the Cross vCenter vMotion utility and migrated a VM to the new site as a test. Unfortunately because of the way our network was setup some time ago we have sites that need to have their network equipment upgraded before they can communicate with the new site - so once the migration completes for a VM those site will not longer be able to access it, not to mention our bandwidth is terrible. We would like to have the ability to clone the VMs to the new site (while powered on) to basically "seed" the site and then have changes synced. Once all the VMs are synced and those sites have been upgraded then we can complete the transition (DNS changes). Is this sort of thing possible? Thanks, John

I'm running vCenter 6.7 w/ three host also running ESXI 6.7. I had certain alerts send me email notifications (like if a host lost power) and for whatever reason it just stopped working. For testing proposes, I'm testing an alert when a VM powers off to send me and email notification. After powering ff the VM, it has yet to send me a successful email. I'm not sure if some updates has stopped this from happening or what. Is anyone else having this issue? I've seemed to have lost that ability to have vCenter email notifications. Like I said, it was working in the past. I do get other mail alerts from other apps like Veeam everyday, so I know the Office 365 email address or the SMTP server isn't the issue. What am I missing in vCenter?

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You can now consult with your doctors through telephone or video calls. The government has released the much-awaited guidelines that allow registered medical professionals (RMPs) to offer consultations, counselling, medical education and treatment from remote locations through the use of technology. In India, till now there was no legislation or guidelines on the practice of telemedicine, through video, phone, Internet based platforms (web/chat/apps etc). Besides providing timely and faster access, telemedicine will also reduce financial costs associated with travel. It also reduces the inconvenience/impact to family and caregivers and can reduce the burden on the secondary hospitals. The guidelines also assume significance in the context of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “A telemedicine visit can be conducted without exposing staff to viruses/infections in the times of such outbreaks. Telemedicine practice can prevent the transmission of infectious diseases reducing the risks to both health care workers and patients,” the document said. However, the RMP will decide on whether tele-consultation is a viable option, and can recommend in-person consultation if warranted. The RMP will also decide what mode or technology can be used for such consultation. All such tele-consultations must adhere to the legal and ethical standards and practices mandated by the Indian Medical Council. While regular prescriptions are allowed, Doctors cannot prescribe Schedule-X drugs over a tele-consult. The guidelines also say that a doctor cannot charge more for a tele-consult than an in-person consult, though he/she may charge a separate fee for offering this service. In emergency cases, tele-consult can be used to provide first aid and counselling. The guidelines say that RMPs cannot insist on tele-consult if the patient is willing to travel or requests an in-person consultation. Also, RMPs are not permitted to solicit patients for telemedicine through ads or other inducements. Telemedicine consultation should not be anonymous; both patient and RMP must know each other’s identity. The RMP has to mandatorily maintain log or record of telemedicine interaction, and also patient records, reports, documents.

India is doing a commendable job in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. It took the epidemic seriously unlike some other countries when it emerged on the global horizon and has generally been ahead of the curve. Whether it’s screening of international passengers, quarantine or announcing lockdown, the central government has never been found wavering or hesitant. The first priority obviously is to save people from this virus. The lockdown was announced when the cases were still very few. It reduced the speed of the spread of the virus and gave the government time to set up the ...

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Jakraphanth Thomma on Saturday killed his commanding officer before stealing weapons from a military camp. The suspect continued his attack in a shopping centre in Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat, He posted material to social media, but his motives for his actions remain unclear. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul posted on his Facebook page on Sunday morning, congratulating the security forces for their actions in the northeastern Thai town. "Thank you police and army for ending the situation. Shooter shot dead!!!" Officials said that the death toll stood at 20, with 42 wounded, revising an earlier total of 21 dead. However, it is still possible that the number of fatalities could rise.

Medics carry a stretcher towards a Thai shopping mall on Sunday. Credit: AP/Facebook Thai police on Sunday shot dead a soldier who killed 26 people and wounded 57 in the worst mass shooting in the country’s history. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha confirmed the numbers of victims after the overnight siege was ended by police on Sunday morning, 16 hours after it began, at a shopping mall in the north-western city of Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat. Officials said the man – identified by military officials as Sergeant Major Jakrapanth Thomma – was angry over a financial dispute. He first killed two people, a fellow soldier and a woman, then went on a far bloodier spree, shooting as he drove to the mall where shoppers fled in terror. The man has been named as Jakraphanth Thomma. Credit: Facebook The man also posted updates to his Facebook page during the rampage. “No one can escape death,” read one post. Another asked, “Should I give up?” In a later post, he wrote, “I have stopped already.” “This incident was unprecedented in Thailand,” Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters as he gave the final death toll on Sunday morning after visiting the wounded in hospitals. “I hope this is the only one and the last incident, and that it never happens again. No one wants this to happen. It could be because of this person’s mental health in this particular moment,” he said. Mr Prayuth said he was worried that people inside the mall could be accidentally hit by bullets fired by police, but added: “I have checked, that didn’t happen.” A photo circulated on social media that appeared to be taken from the Facebook page shows a man wearing a green camouflaged military helmet while a fireball and black smoke rage behind him. Jakrapanth’s profile picture shows him in a mask and dressed in military-style fatigues and armed with a pistol. The background image is of a handgun and bullets. The Facebook page was made inaccessible after the shooting began. A group of armed commando soldiers outside Terminal 21 Korat mall, in Nakhon Ratchasima. Credit: AP Jakrapanth appeared to be armed with an assault rifle, based on security camera video aired on Thai Rath television. The shooting spree began at about 3:30pm local time on Saturday. Video taken outside the mall showed people diving for cover as shots rang out. Many were killed outside the mall, some in cars, others while walking. City and neighbourhood police officers said Jakrapanth took a gun from his base and drove to the Terminal 21 Korat mall, shooting along the way. Several Thai media reported he travelled in a military vehicle. A wanted poster released by Crime Suppression Division of The Royal Thai Police. Credit: Crime Suppression Division of The Royal Thai Police via AP

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The bodies of the victims were found lying in the streets of Matholesville barely 24 hours after Gauteng police commissioner Lt-Gen Elias Mawela together with his team conducted a raid in the area as part of Operation Okae Molao. A 10th victim is still being treated in hospital. Kweza said that a few hours after the killings, Mawela had summoned police officers from “different stations and units within the Johannesburg district and provincial office to hunt down the suspects and deal with all forms of criminality in Matholesville and the surrounding areas”. “During the night operation, police took in 87 people for questioning and to establish if they are not wanted for any crimes,” Kweza said. She added that the manhunt would continue until those responsible for the killings were located and arrested. The provincial commissioner had directed that witnesses be taken into the witness protection programme for their safety, Kweza said. “We condemn this barbaric attack and we will ensure we leave no stone unturned in making the people of Matholesville and Roodepoort feel safe. The suspects will be arrested as soon as possible and the police will not sleep until we find them,” Mawela said.

Johannesburg - Gauteng police on Saturday said they had taken in 87 people regarding the brutal murder of nine Lesotho nationals who were stoned to death in Matholeville, near Roodepoort. Gauteng top cop, provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela launched a manhunt for the suspects, who are also Lesotho nationals. The nine deceased were allegedly killed after they were accused of being involved in criminal activities, which attracted police to their illegal mining activities. Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza`said the police were working tirelessly to bring those involved to book. “During the night operation, police took in 87 people for questioning and to establish if they are not wanted for any crimes.The manhunt will continue until all the suspects linked to the murder are located and arrested,” said Kweza. Meanwhile, Mawela called for calm.

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CIUDAD HIDALGO, Mexico — Hundreds of Central American migrants crossed the Guatemala-Mexico border at dawn Thursday without resistance and began walking up a rural highway. Some carried banners arguing that migrants were not the problem, but rather the result of poor governing. It was a resurgence of a migrant caravan that had been diminishing since its last concerted attempt to cross the border Monday was turned back by Mexican National Guardsmen posted along Suchiate river, which forms the border here. Mexico began flying and busing members of the caravan back to Honduras on Tuesday. Seven more buses left Mexico for Honduras on Wednesday, carrying 240 migrants back home, and two flights left with an additional 220 Hondurans, Mexico’s National Immigration Institute said. By Wednesday, the number of people outside the Casa del Migrante in Tecun Uman was perhaps half of what it was at its peak Sunday night. In previous caravans, Mexican authorities have allowed caravans to walk for awhile, seemingly to tire them out, and then closed their path. The Associated Press

Hundreds of Central American migrants crossed the river into Mexico from Guatemala Thursday after a dayslong standoff with security forces. Carrying US and Honduran flags at the head of the procession, they walked along a highway toward a waiting contingent of dozens of national guardsmen with riot shields and body armor and vans from the National Immigration Institute. Jose Luis Morales, a Salvadoran leader of the caravan, said the migrants want to negotiate to be allowed to pass peacefully. But Mexico has cracked down on the large caravans seen previously following intense pressure from Washington last year. Thursday's movement was a resurgence of a migrant caravan that had been diminishing since its last concerted attempt to cross the border Monday was turned back by Mexican National Guardsmen posted along Suchiate river, which forms the border here. The national guardsmen awaited the caravan outside the community of Frontera Hidalgo, near Ciudad Hidalgo where the migrants crossed the Suchiate river at dawn. Mexico began flying and busing members of the caravan back to Honduras on Tuesday. Seven more buses left Mexico for Honduras on Wednesday, carrying 240 migrants back home, and two flights left with an additional 220 Hondurans, Mexico's National Immigration Institute said. By Wednesday, the number of people outside the Casa del Migrante in Tecun Uman was perhaps half of what it was at its peak Sunday night. In previous caravans, Mexican authorities have allowed caravans to walk for awhile, seemingly to tire them out, and then closed their path. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)