Worldwide

'Super cyclone' bears down on Bangladesh, India

May 20, 2020

Amphan , seen in a satellite image captured Sunday, is moving over the Bay of Bengal and is expected to make landfall near the border of India and Bangladesh this week. "We are also keeping separate isolation rooms in the shelters for any infected patients", Bangladesh's junior disaster management minister Enamur Rahman told AFP .

New Zealand's population passes 5 million

May 20, 2020

In all likelihood, New Zealand has reached the figure because of the pandemic. On 18 March, the federal government advised the 80,000 New Zealanders overseas to return home, including that the home window to take a trip was shutting quickly.

How to Get More College Financial Aid During the Coronavirus Crisis

May 20, 2020

Torrey said the school would be drawing on what it learned after the Canterbury earthquakes. Cleveland State University is losing about $3 million. Some UMass Amherst officials are working on proposals for how to ensure that students socialize safely at night and on the weekends, while other departments are ordering plexiglass to curtail the spread of germs, he said.

Pensacola gunman's cellphones reveal meticulous planning for attack, Federal Bureau of Investigation says

May 20, 2020

The FBI cracked the iPhone encryption of the Royal Saudi Air Force trainee, second lieutenant Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, 21, who was killed by law enforcement during the December 6, 2019 attack , US Attorney-General William Barr said.

US Supreme Court heaps more damages on Sudan in embassy bombing cases

May 20, 2020

They were the first major attacks on USA targets by al-Qaida. Lower courts concluded Sudan had, in fact, provided safe haven and support to al-Qaeda, which plotted the attacks from its soil. The new government in Sudan in power following the 2019 overthrow of long-serving President Omar al-Bashir is keen to fix relations with the USA, which should help end its economic isolation.

US could reassess Hong Kong's status: Pompeo warns China

May 20, 2020

However, Pompeo now believes that China is interfering in Hong Kong's working. The Legislative Council was in dispute over who should run the house committee, which scrutinises bills and decides when they are voted on. That bill, which was eventually withdrawn, also sparked fights in the legislature before the political unrest exploded onto the streets. Although last year's street protests died down during the pandemic, some demonstrations are expected to resume.

Lesotho PM Thabane leaves television studios after resignation address

May 20, 2020

Both Mr Thabane and Maesaiah Thabane have denied any involvement in the murder. He says his resignation is due to his advanced age. Thabane had been expected to resign by the end of the week but he appeared to be defying the wishes of the new coalition.

Committee approves Trump ally Ratcliffe for intel chief, sends to full Senate

May 20, 2020

Rubio sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, eventually losing the primary race to real estate developer Donald Trump , who defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in that November's general election. At his hearing, Ratcliffe worked to separate himself from the president, including by saying he believed Russian Federation interfered in the 2016 presidential election, a conclusion Trump has often resisted.

Michigan dams breached, thousands evacuated amid flooding

May 20, 2020

Whitmer, who has been criticized for her strict lockdown orders during the COVID-19 crisis, added, "To go through this in the midst of a global pandemic is nearly unthinkable". The depth and destruction as a result of the breaches and flooding are unknown at this time, according to Whitmer. Earlier, state officials had been reportedly eyeing Sanford Dam, south of Edenville, in anticipation of another rupture.

Two Teenage Girls Shot In Honour Killing In PakistanGuardian Life

May 20, 2020

The tribal areas in North and South Waziristan, which borders Afghanistan, are known for the strict "honour code" imposed on women, whose movements are heavily restricted and who are often not allowed out of the house unaccompanied. "Before 2018, this kind of murder was not considered a crime in the tribal area, neither was it reported", she explained. "At the moment, our topmost priority is to secure the life of the third girl and the man before taking any action", the officer said.

Germany, France propose 500 bil. euro fund

May 20, 2020

She said the current economic challenge "requires this unusual, one-off effort that Germany and France are now prepared to take". In a joint videoconference with Macron on Monday, Merkel said the proposal was an initial response to the economic crisis resulting from the measures adopted across the continent to confront the spread of the virus, Efe news reported.

Why the Michael Flynn case matters in the fight against IL corruption

May 20, 2020

Fifteen Republican state attorneys general have filed a legal brief telling a federal judge they support the justice department's attempt to drop its case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn . "In truth, they were not", the filing said. " The level of communication is unusual ", Comey tells Obama, according to Rice, hinting that the National Security Council should " potentially " avoid passing " sensitive information related to Russia " to Flynn.

China protests support of U.S., others for Taiwan support at WHO

May 20, 2020

Xi used less combative language during his remarks at the closely watched summit on Monday, however, outlining a number of steps China would take to control the spread of Covid-19 and pledging $2 billion over two years to the WHO. "I suspect that it will receive similar treatment this time around, especially given the high levels of positive publicity that Taiwan has received in recent months due to its handling of COVID-19", he told AFP.

Civilian casualties by Taliban, Afghan forces rising

May 20, 2020

It was only on Sunday that a power sharing arrangement could be finalised between President Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah which allows Ghani to stay on as President sharing an equal number of ministries with Abdullah Abdullah who will lead peace talks with the Taliban.

United States border closure extended 30 more days, Trudeau says

May 20, 2020

The US-Canada border has been closed since March 21 . Additionally, Trudeau announced the expansion of the eligibility of the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA ) to include many owner-operated small businesses. Asked when Canada could reopen to worldwide visitors, Trudeau said the government was making decisions week to week based on a changing situation. Cross-border commutes by Canadian health care workers and others in essential jobs have not been impacted, the New York Times ...

Pompeo rejected request for interview from inspector general on Saudi arms sales

May 20, 2020

Linick's firing ", Engel said . The terms of Linick's exit remain contentious. Trump notified Congress on Friday of the layoff, beginning a 30-day review period on the president's action as Linick prepares to leave. "So, I was very disappointed to hear this news". In the wake of the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi ― who the American intelligence community says was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Turkey under orders by the Saudi kingdom ― Congress passed a series of measures on ...

Joe Biden to host virtual rally in Milwaukee Wednesday

May 20, 2020

Almost half (48 percent) of voters in the poll said China is mostly responsible for the state of the pandemic "because the virus originated there", compared with 38 percent who said the United States is mostly responsible due to its poor response.

Coronavirus: Trump says he is taking unproven drug hydroxychloroquine

May 20, 2020

So just in case you may be feeling some FOMO, we took a closer look at the now much-talked-about drug. I said what do you think? The president said he was taking "the zinc and the hydroxy" and "so far I seem to be okay". Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Veteran Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie also defended the commander-in-chief during Tuesday's cabinet meeting as the "right to try president" and said the drug had been used to safely treat other diseases for decades.

'Jane Roe' Norma McCorvey: I Was Paid for Pro-Life Switch

May 20, 2020

She was pregnant with her third child in 1970 when she was referred to two lawyers who wanted to challenge laws in Texas banning abortions except where the mother's life was at risk. "If a young woman wants to have an abortion, that's no skin off my a**. That's why they call it choice", she added. But it was all a lie, McCorvey says in a documentary filmed in the months before her death in 2017 , claiming she only did it because she was paid by antiabortion groups including Operation ...

‘Obamagate?’ AG William Barr says he doesn’t expect investigations of Biden, Obama

May 20, 2020

Trump spent years pushing a racist conspiracy theory alleging that Obama was not born in the U.S. Obama responded to Trump's unrelenting attacks by brutally mocking him to his face at the 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner, which led him to run for president, according to some confidants .

Two People Accused Of Shoplifting While Wearing Watermelons On Their Heads

May 20, 2020

The 20-year-old suspect who was arrested has been charged with wearing a mask in public while committing larceny, underage possession of alcohol , and petit larceny of alcohol, police said. In the comments people revealed the pair had even posed for a picture at a different store earlier in the day. "Nice and inconspicuous. We're clearly dealing with two masterminds", one person replied.

Iran announces new phase in virus fight despite nearly 2,300 new cases

May 19, 2020

Among those undergoing treatment in the hospital at present, 2,705 patients have critical health conditions because of more severe infection, he said. Rabiei said that put Iran "in third global place in recoveries after China and Switzerland" with "a recovery rate of nearly 94 percent". Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings.

Trump mobilizing the military to distribute a coronavirus vaccine when available

May 19, 2020

I think they should. "I think that they have a basis of knowledge, but when you prognosticate about the future or when you advocate for things dramatic and drastic, like closing all the schools, you should look at all the information". "To me it's not an acceptable answer, especially when it comes to schools", Mr Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday, when asked about Dr Fauci's warnings to senators the day before about the risks of reopening the schools and economy too soon.

Toronto asks Ontario government for more testing, funding in homeless shelters

May 19, 2020

While it appears that this marks a significant increase compared to Thursday's 258, the lowest number reported since March, both days' reporting are in fact incorrect. According to the Public Health Ontario Daily Epidemiologic Summary (iPHIS ), there are 263 outbreaks with 823 resident deaths. The ministry has reported 1,360 deaths of residents in long-term care homes as a result of the virus, as well as five staff.

Trump fires back after Obama swipes at his coronavirus response

May 19, 2020

And in my opinion, it was an illegal takedown". I think for them, maybe they're not going to. Barr said there have been "increasing attempts to use the criminal justice system as a political weapon", and that what happened to President Trump was "abhorrent" and "grave injustice" as law enforcement was used to advance what he called a "false and utterly baseless" Russian Federation collusion narrative.

Burundi expels senior World Health Organization official, experts

May 19, 2020

His consistent complaints about vote rigging and the unlevel playing field could indicate that he is preparing for an even bigger complaint about the credibility of the polls. "I see the country far more divided", said Désiré Nzisabira, a Burundian working for an worldwide organisation in Johannesburg. Hartill, the Burundi researcher, said disputed election results could put the country back on edge.

President Xi presents himself as `savior` at World Health Assembly

May 19, 2020

The goal of that is to offer a massive support to research, to speed up the results of medical research, and to ensure that we can guarantee universal access to the tools we need to fight the pandemic", adding that any vaccine must "be a global public good".

Tibetans demand China reveal fate of boy taken away in 1995

May 19, 2020

The Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in India and enjoys a wide global following, on May 14, 1995, identified Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, the second most senior figure in Tibetan Buddhism's largest school. The Chinese government, which is officially atheist, had named another boy, Gyaltsen Norbu, as the Panchen Lama. However, the Tibetan Parliament in India, known as the Kashag, continues to recognize Nyima as the sole legitimate holder of his title.

Coronavirus: Trump gives World Health Organization ultimatum over Covid-19 handling

May 19, 2020

In his letter dated May 18, Trump alleged that the World Health Organization has failed to publicly call on China to allow for an independent investigation into the origins of the virus, despite the recent endorsement for doing so by its own Emergency Committee.

Detroit priest uses water pistol for socially distanced holy water blessing

May 19, 2020

Ambrose Church in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan , was photographed using the squirt gun on Easter, while he wore a mask, face shield, and protective gloves. "This comes from a guy who won't let his photo be used in his parish paper because it's 'not about me, '" he said. Obama said: "More than anything this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so numerous folks in charge know what they're doing".

Explosion and fire injure at least 11 firefighters in Los Angeles

May 19, 2020

The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as investigators associated with the city's fire and police departments, are working together to look deeper into the fire that razed Smoke Tokes, a warehouse distributor of butane hash oil.

Trump threatens permanent freeze on WHO funding in 30 days

May 19, 2020

Without directly referring to USA criticism, Chinese president Xi Jinping said that China has "acted with openness, transparency and responsibility", while providing information to the World Health Organization "in a most timely fashion".

WHO a puppet of China, says Trump

May 19, 2020

Top public health official Robert Redfield, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said publicly that the agency will continue its ties with the WHO , as the two sides have "had a long history of working together in multiple outbreaks around the world".

Know The New Guidelines For Lockdown 4.0

May 19, 2020

The zones can be a district, or a municipal corporation/ municipality or even smaller administrative units such as sub-divisions, etc, as decided by States and UTs. -All religious places/places of worship shall be closed for public. This means it is left to the states to announce guidelines for sale of non-essential items by e-trailers.

China's Xi says supports World Health Organization probe when COVID-19 controlled

May 19, 2020

The president says that unless the WHO makes substantive changes, the USA may leave the organization and take away its funding permanently. Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne, who led diplomatic efforts on the motion, said: "We're very encouraged by the growing levels of support for the comprehensive World Health Assembly motion".

Jacinda Ardern and partner turned away from Wellington cafe

May 19, 2020

On these numbers Labour would have 72 seats in Parliament and could easily govern alone, well above a 61-seat majority. It would mean at least 16 current National Party MPs would lose their seats. Bridges said incumbents around the world had enjoyed poll bumps in the wake of Covid-19 and predicted it would not last. "We've had wall-to-wall coverage of the Government and the health aspects of Covid-19", Bridges said.

Trump blames China for unleashing coronavirus

May 19, 2020

According to Reuters , which conducted interviews with a dozen current and former government officials, "widespread discussions" to sway firms from doing business in China are now underway. It could have been stopped in China before spreading to the world. The coronavirus has hit China and U.S. ties immensely. The U.S. president went on to say he is unhappy with how the pandemic has unfolded, especially since "it was totally preventable".

Lack of immunity makes China vulnerable to second wave of virus infection

May 19, 2020

According to Dr. Zhong Nanshan , the Chinese government's senior medical adviser, the majority of Chinese are susceptible to the COVID-19 infection due to lack of immunity. The residents of the city are not allowed to leave and those who want to will have to provide a negative test result taken within the previous 48 hours.

Pompeo denies inspector general fired as payback for investigation

May 19, 2020

It emerged on Monday he was also scrutinising a Trump administration Saudi arms deal. "As is the case with regard to other positions where I, as President, have the power of appointment, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, it is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as Inspectors General".

Trump calls Obama 'an incompetent president' after Obama's televised national graduation speech

May 19, 2020

At the televised "Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020" event Saturday hosted by National Basketball Association star LeBron James , Obama accused Trump of thinking like a little kid and being a so-called grown-up - without naming names but with everyone knowing who Obama was referring to.

Search Intensifies for Colorado Cyclist Missing Since Mother's Day

May 19, 2020

The FBI has set up a dedicated tip line at 719-312-7530 for any leads. Barry Morphew and a family friend are offering a $200,000 reward for her safe return , no questions asked. "Local, state, and federal investigators searched steep and rugged terrain in an effort to attempt to locate additional items of Ms. Morphew after investigators believed to have found a personal item of the missing woman on Thursday", Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze said in a statement on May 15.

Italy reports 99 new deaths as stores, bars reopen

May 18, 2020

It said 127,326 people have recovered from the coronavirus in Italy, 2,150 more than Sunday. Italy also recorded highest daily number of cases and daily casualty toll, earning it "the epicenter" of coronavirus. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said this week that her country wanted all border controls within the EU's visa-free area to be lifted from 15 June.

France records 70 cases of Covid-19 in schools since lifting lockdown

May 18, 2020

Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer told a radio station Monday that the individuals had most likely been infected prior to returning to school. The government claims four-year-olds are capable of social distancing , but it is fighting a war of words with teachers, parents and doctors who say it is "too risky" to let children return to schools.

Catholic priest uses water pistol to deliver socially-distanced blessing to parishioners

May 18, 2020

Viral photos of a priest using a squirt gun filled with holy water to bless churchgoers during a socially distant service are taking on a life of their own on the Internet. "It was big in Ukraine, and the Germans are amusing, that led to a whole sub discussion about the types of water pistols", Pelc said. "It even had two hits in the Vatican, which sort of concerned me but I haven't heard anything yet".

Félicien Kabuga arrested near Paris for role in Rwandan genocide

May 18, 2020

The arrest paves the way for bringing the fugitive bfore the court of appeal in Paris and the global court in The Hague. Kabuga was Rwanda's most-wanted man and the United States government had placed a $5 million bounty on his head. Following his arrest, Kabuga is expected to be transferred to the custody of the United Nation's International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), where he will stand trial.

German man charged over night at the museum in Sydney

May 18, 2020

He allegedly stole a piece of artwork and a staff member's cowboy hat off a coat rack, which he donned while leaving the premises. The man was filmed taking photos with exhibits as he wandered through the museum. The guy accused of breaking into a museum and sticking his head inside a T-Rex skull has been arrested and granted bail, on the condition he sticks to a curfew and, presumably, doesn't break into any more museums.

Face coverings recommended as restrictions eased

May 18, 2020

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan stressed that wearing a mask is another measure to combat the spread of the virus, not a "silver bullet" to beat the virus. Mr Varadkar said coronavirus was an "inferno that is raging around the world". We must extinguish every spark, quench every ember. "We are bound together and we must rely on each other if we are to succeed, which we will", he said.

Trump Says He Is Thinking Of Restoring Some U.S

May 18, 2020

Previously, the United States despatched about $400 million a yr to the World Health Organization yearly, which is ten occasions the quantity China contributes. The alleged delay came at a crucial time in January, as the virus was spreading around the world undetected and China was stockpiling medical equipment and protective gear made in the USA and elsewhere.

Andrew Cuomo Gets Tested for Coronavirus at Briefing

May 18, 2020

Testing had been limited to those with symptoms, healthcare and essential workers, and anyone who may have had contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus. An agreement with CVS will allow samples to be collected at more than 60 pharmacies across the state, Cuomo said. Each site will be able to conduct 50 or more tests per day.

Hong Kong legislature erupts into fisticuffs

May 18, 2020

The Democrats chanted "foul play" and held a placard reading "CCP [China Communist Party] tramples HK legislature". One lawmaker threw torn-up pages of the legislature's rulebook at members of the opposition, while another shouted, "It's an illegal meeting".

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