| Coronavirus in South Africa: Smokers fume at cigarette ban Posted: 25 May 2020 04:28 PM PDT  The government is to ease lockdown restrictions and allow the sale of alcohol - but not cigarettes.
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| Arbery family lawyer: Feds looking into how case handled Posted: 25 May 2020 03:01 PM PDT  A lawyer for the family of Ahmaud Arbery said Monday that a federal prosecutor told the slain man's mother federal officials are investigating potential misconduct by local officials who handled the case. Lawyer Lee Merritt said U.S. Attorney Bobby Christine, whose jurisdiction includes southern Georgia, met with him and Arbery's mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, on Thursday. Barry Paschal, a spokesman for Christine, declined to confirm or deny whether the meeting happened.
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| IVI Standardizes on Veeva Vault QualityDocs to Improve Operational Efficiency Posted: 25 May 2020 03:00 PM PDT  Veeva Systems (NYSE: VEEV) today announced that the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), a not-for-profit International Organization established in 1997 as an initiative by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has implemented Veeva Vault QualityDocs to improve control and real time visibility of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for audits and inspections. The move from paper-based processes to Vault QualityDocs will better enable IVI to meet compliance and GxP requirements of major drug administrations.
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| IVI Standardizes on Veeva Vault QualityDocs to Improve Operational Efficiency Posted: 25 May 2020 03:00 PM PDT  Veeva Systems (NYSE: VEEV) today announced that the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), a not-for-profit International Organization established in 1997 as an initiative by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has implemented Veeva Vault QualityDocs to improve control and real time visibility of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for audits and inspections. The move from paper-based processes to Vault QualityDocs will better enable IVI to meet compliance and GxP requirements of major drug administrations.
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| California issues guidelines for church reopenings Posted: 25 May 2020 02:47 PM PDT  Religious services in California will look much different under rules unveiled Monday that limit attendance to 100 people and recommend worshippers wear masks, limit singing and refrain from shaking hands or hugging. The state released guidance under which county health departments can approve the reopening of churches, mosques, synagogues and other houses of worship. Others with outbreaks — such as Los Angeles County, which has about 60% of California's roughly 3,800 deaths — may choose to delay.
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| Federal coronavirus testing plan puts burden on states Posted: 25 May 2020 02:34 PM PDT  The Trump administration's new strategy for coronavirus testing puts much of the burden on states while promising to provide supplies such as swabs and material to transport specimens. In a joint letter, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, New Jersey Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. and Washington Sen. Patty Murray said the administration "still does not have a serious plan for increasing testing to stop the spread of the virus." President Donald Trump, who has been eager to revive the economy by loosening coronavirus-related restrictions, vowed Monday, "Together we will vanquish the virus and America will rise from this crisis to new and even greater heights."
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| First Iranian oil tanker docks in Venezuela Posted: 25 May 2020 01:18 PM PDT  The first of five Iranian tankers carrying much-needed gasoline and oil derivatives docked in Venezuela on Monday, Caracas announced amid concern in Washington over the burgeoning relationship between countries it sees as international pariahs. In a statement delivered on state television, Oil Minister Tareck El Aissami said the convoy was an expression of the Venezuelan people's "self-determination" and praised Tehran's friendship at a time of need. "What great fortune to have Iran in these times," said the minister, surrounded by members of the military leadership.
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| The dried tart cherry market was valued at US$ 88.9 million in 2018 and is projected to reach US$ 130.5 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.4% from 2019 to 2027 Posted: 25 May 2020 01:04 PM PDT  Dried Tart Cherry Market to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and European Analysis - by Product Type (Freeze Dried, Sun Dried, Infused Dried, Others); Nature (Conventional, Organic); End Use (Bakery Products, Confectionaries, Dairy Products, Beverages, Cereal and Snack Bars, Others); Distribution Channel (Hypermarkets and Supermarkets, Convenience Stores, Online, Others); and Country Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05894538/?utm_source=PRN The dried tart cherry market was valued at US$ 88.9 million in 2018 and is projected to reach US$ 130.5 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.4% from 2019 to 2027. Dried tart cherry is rich in nutrients and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.It is rich in potassium, fiber, and beta carotene. Dried tart cherry has a unique sweet and tangy taste, and is used in the preparation of various food and beverage products.Dried tart cherry offers several health advantages such as supports heart health, promotes better sleep, and offer relief from pain. It is a natural source of melatonin, which helps to regulate skin cycle.Dried tart cherry is an excellent source of boron, which further supports bone health. It contains high amounts of anthocyanin, which provide anti-inflammatory properties to help in repair and maintenance of muscle tissue. Based on nature, the European dried tart cherry market has been segmented into conventional and organic.The conventional segment held the largest share of the market in 2019; however, the organic segment is estimated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The increasing awareness among the consumers is one of the key drivers for the growth of organic dried tart cherry market during the forecast period.The consumers are becoming conscious about the food products they consume. The inclination towards the consumption of natural and healthy food products among population is increasing across the globe.The companies are trying to develop innovative products using organic ingredients to attract the health-conscious consumers. Organic dried tart cherry offers various health-benefits and has applications in several end-use industries. Therefore, the demand for organic dried tart cherry is estimated to increase in various end-use industries as it fulfills the consumer's requirements. Geographically, the European dried tart cherry market has been segmented into Russia, Turkey, Germany, Ukraine, Poland, and rest of Europe.Russia held the largest share of the European dried tart cherry market, followed by Turkey and rest of European countries. The growing focus toward health-promoting food products is one of the key factors that is boosting the dried tart cherry market. The presence of several manufacturers such as Graceland Fruit, Inc. and Cherry Central has bolstered the growth of the dried tart cherry market. Also, the consumer demand for healthy and tasty products without any compromise on taste is expected to propel the dried tart cherry market in the region. Further, the growth of bakery and confectionery, beverages, dairy and other industries is further propelling the demand for dried tart cherry in the European region. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Dried Tart Cherry Market COVID-19 outbreak first began in Wuhan (China) in December 2019, and since then it has spread across the globe at a fast pace.China, Italy, Iran, Spain, the Republic of Korea, France, Germany, and the US are among the worst affected countries in terms of positive cases and reported deaths as of March 2020. The COVID-19 outbreak has affected economies and industries in various countries due to lockdowns, travel bans, and business shutdowns. The overall market breakdown due to COVID-19 is also affecting the growth of the dried tart cherry market due to shutting down of factories, obstacle in supply chain, and downturn in world economy. Cherry Central, Fruit d'Or, Graceland Fruit, Inc., and Smeltzer Orchard Company, LLC, are among the major players in the European dried tart cherry market. Overall size of the European dried tart cherry market has been derived in accordance to primary and secondary sources.To begin the research process, exhaustive secondary research has been conducted using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the market. Additionally, multiple primary interviews have been conducted with industry participants and commentators to validate the data, as well as to gain more analytical insights into the topic. The participants who take part in such a process include industry expert such as VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, and national sales managers along with external consultants such as valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leaders specializing in the European dried tart cherry market.Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05894538/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Contact Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001
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| In Bolsonaro's Brazil, everyone else is to blame for virus Posted: 25 May 2020 12:28 PM PDT  With Brazil emerging as one of the world's most infected countries, President Jair Bolsonaro is deflecting all responsibility for the coronavirus crisis, casting blame on mayors, governors, an outgoing health minister and the media. Confronted with a travel ban imposed on Brazil by the U.S. because of widespread COVID-19, one of his advisers called it press hysteria. Since the outbreak started, the Brazilian leader has avoided acknowledging the potential effects of his actions, particularly in undermining local leaders' stay-at-home recommendations.
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| Fury as Boris Johnson defends adviser accused of defying lockdown rules Posted: 25 May 2020 11:42 AM PDT  British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has risked undermining his entire coronavirus strategy in an apparent attempt to save the career of one man. Dominic Cummings, the prime minister's top adviser, has long been the bête noire of opponents after he masterminded not only Johnson's election win in December, but also the highly divisive Brexit vote of 2016, which saw the U.K. vote to leave the European Union. Now Cummings has united foes and traditional allies in a white-hot fury after it emerged that he apparently broke his own government's lockdown restrictions, traveling 264 miles from London with his family even though his wife had symptoms of COVID-19.
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| The only thing Dominic Cummings was going to be saying sorry for was his tardiness Posted: 25 May 2020 11:34 AM PDT  There was no apology and no regrets yet, in his hour-long grilling, Dominic Cummings managed to present the human being behind the headlines. Like pulling back the curtain on the Wizard of Oz, public perceptions of the "evil genius" responsible for the EU referendum result and Boris Johnson's ascendancy were temporarily put on hold as the second most powerful man in Government presented his defence. Smartened up for once in a white shirt, the Durham-born "assistant to the Prime Minister" kept the cameras, and indeed the country, waiting for a good 30 minutes before he made his appearance in the Downing Street rose garden. It soon became apparent that the only thing he was going to be saying sorry for was his tardiness. As soon as he took his seat at a pre-arranged desk, it transpired that the Prime Minister had borrowed his right-hand man's Brexit slogan and finally taken back control of a situation that has spiralled out of control since Friday. Admitting that Mr Johnson had ordered him to "clear up the confusion and misunderstanding" over his 264-mile lockdown trip up the A1, former Vote Leave guru Mr Cummings appeared not quite contrite, but certainly contemplative.
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| Cyprus to deport 17 migrants suspected of terror links Posted: 25 May 2020 10:33 AM PDT |
| Merkel's conservatives want stimulus package to include tax relief - document Posted: 25 May 2020 10:30 AM PDT |
| Israeli leader vows to push ahead with annexing West Bank Posted: 25 May 2020 10:27 AM PDT  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday pledged to annex parts of the occupied West Bank in the coming months, vowing to move ahead with the explosive plan despite a growing chorus of condemnations by key allies. The Palestinians, with wide international backing, seek the entire West Bank as the heartland of a future independent state. In an apparent reference to the friendly administration of President Donald Trump, Netanyahu said Israel had a "historic opportunity" to redraw the Mideast map that could not be missed.
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| Egypt's doctors criticize government over virus 'negligence' Posted: 25 May 2020 10:16 AM PDT  Egypt's medical union on Monday blamed the government for increasing levels of coronavirus infections and deaths among healthcare professionals, its sharpest criticism yet of the country's handling of the pandemic. Citing growing frustration over a lack of protective equipment, testing and hospital beds for front-line doctors, the union described the Egyptian health ministry's negligence as "a crime of killing by irresponsibility." The union reported that 19 doctors have died and 350 have contracted the virus, according to official figures, although testing of medical staff remains limited.
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| Venezuela celebrates docking of tanker with Iran gasoline Posted: 25 May 2020 08:44 AM PDT  Venezuelan authorities celebrated Monday as the first of five Iranian tankers loaded with gasoline docked in the South American country, delivering badly needed fuel to the crisis-stricken nation that sits atop the world's largest oil reserves. The gasoline shipments are arriving in defiance of stiff sanctions by the Trump administration against both nations, and they mark a new era in the burgeoning relationship between Venezuela and Iran, which is expanding its footprint in the Western Hemisphere. "We keep moving forward and winning," Venezuela's Minister of Energy Tareck El Aissami tweeted.
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| Putin makes Kremlin appearance as virus restrictions ease Posted: 25 May 2020 08:43 AM PDT  President Vladimir Putin made a rare recent appearance in the Kremlin on Monday as Russia prepares to ease lockdown restrictions imposed over the coronavirus pandemic. The 67-year-old has worked remotely over the past few weeks from his Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, chairing meetings with officials by video conference.
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| Biden makes 1st in-person appearance in more than 2 months Posted: 25 May 2020 08:42 AM PDT  Joe Biden made his first in-person appearance in more than two months on Monday as he marked Memorial Day by laying a wreath at a veterans park near his Delaware home. Since abruptly canceling a March 10 rally in Cleveland at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has waged much of his campaign from his home in Wilmington. When Biden emerged on Monday, he wore a face mask, in contrast to President Donald Trump, who has refused to cover his face in public as health officials suggest.
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| Boris Johnson the 'people’s politician' risks squandering his common touch in standing by Dominic Cummings Posted: 25 May 2020 08:27 AM PDT  Say what you like about Boris Johnson, he is not what you would call a "misfit" or a "weirdo". Unlike his non-conformist chief adviser Dominic Cummings, who once touted for such 'oddballs' to join No 10, the Prime Minister is as conventional as any of the 20 Old Etonians who have ended up in Downing Street. A little eccentric, perhaps, with his love of the Iliad and aversion to Mason Pearson products, but as his old Balliol philosophy don Jonathan Barnes put it: "Definitely a good egg." Indeed chief among the reasons the Oxford graduate turned Telegraph journalist proved so successful in his predictable pivot to politics was his inherent likeability. While you might not agree with Mr Johnson's views on Brexit or even the burka, he has always been the kind of public figure people can imagine having a pint with. Unlike his predecessor, Theresa the Maybot, a large part of his appeal is that he is human. He has made so many mistakes in his personal life most people stopped counting long ago. As his hero Winston Churchill put it, his success has been his ability to go from failure to failure, without a loss of enthusiasm. He's been fired, twice divorced, fathered illegitimate children, suspended from a zip wire, knifed by Michael Gove - the list is endless, yet still he was elected to the highest office in the land.
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| In his final days, Ahmaud Arbery's life was at a crossroads Posted: 25 May 2020 07:40 AM PDT  College could wait until the fall. About a mile and a half into his usual route, Ahmaud Arbery would cross the four lanes of Jekyll Island Causeway into the subdivision of Satilla Shores. Three months ago, at the age of 25, he ran through Satilla Shores for the final time.
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| First Iranian oil tanker docks in Venezuela Posted: 25 May 2020 07:29 AM PDT  The first of five Iranian tankers carrying much-needed gasoline and oil derivatives has docked in Venezuela and a second one entered its waters, the government said on Monday amid concern in Washington over the burgeoning relationship. The United States has closely monitored the shipments, concerned that Iran and Venezuela -- both under US sanctions -- were taking their longstanding ties to another strategic level. Venezuela boasts the largest proven oil reserves in the world, but production has plummeted under the current regime and its oil exports have been hampered by US sanctions.
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| Merkel in tug-of-war with states over virus safety rules Posted: 25 May 2020 06:43 AM PDT  A power struggle between Chancellor Angela Merkel and two German states over coronavirus rules erupted Monday as Berlin sought to extend social distancing restrictions by another month against a regional revolt. A draft policy document from Merkel's office seen by AFP showed that the German government aims to impose existing safety rules until at least July 5 to keep the coronavirus outbreak under control. The working paper would prolong by a month existing contact restrictions "to maintain a distance of 1.5 metres (five feet)" between people, prevent large gatherings and "require masks in certain public areas" such as shops and buses.
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| Trump threatens to move RNC without assurances from governor Posted: 25 May 2020 06:28 AM PDT  President Donald Trump threatened Monday to pull the Republican National Convention out of North Carolina if the state's Democratic governor doesn't immediately sign off on allowing a full-capacity gathering in August despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Trump's tweets about the upcoming RNC in Charlotte come two days after North Carolina's largest daily increase in virus cases yet. On Friday, Gov. Roy Cooper moved the state into a second reopening phase by loosening restrictions on hair salons, barbers and restaurants.
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| Lock your cars! Vehicle theft spikes in COVID-19 pandemic Posted: 25 May 2020 06:06 AM PDT  The coronavirus hasn't been kind to car owners. Despite silent streets and nearly nonexistent traffic, vehicle larcenies shot up 63% in New York and nearly 17% in Los Angeles from Jan. 1 through mid-May, compared with the same period last year. "You might as well put a sticker on the window that says 'come take my stuff,'" said an exasperated Alex Villanueva, the Los Angeles County sheriff.
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| EU must present united front to shield pandemic-hit banks -regulator Posted: 25 May 2020 06:00 AM PDT |
| Trump blocks travel from Brazil after coronavirus cases surge Posted: 25 May 2020 05:31 AM PDT  President Trump on Sunday said the United States would suspend travel from Brazil, after a surge in coronavirus cases made the South American nation one of the world's hotspots.Brazil now has more than 22,000 deaths and 347,000 confirmed cases, the second most after the U.S., which has recorded nearly 100,000 COVID-19 deaths. Trump had already banned some travelers from China, Europe, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Iran, but not from Russia, which has the third highest number of coronavirus cases.White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany called the Brazil restrictions another "decisive action to protect our country." Filipe Martins, who advises Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on international affairs, said the travel ban wasn't "anything specifically against Brazil. Ignore the hysteria of the press."The ban will go into effect Thursday, and will not apply to legal permanent residents or their spouses, parents, or children. The ban does not apply to trade. Read more at The Associated Press.More stories from theweek.com Trump still hasn't taken his annual physical and it's starting to get weird How social conservatives traded causes for clichés WHO temporarily pauses hydroxychloroquine study, citing safety concerns
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| Reports: Russian mediation reopens major highway in NE Syria Posted: 25 May 2020 05:22 AM PDT |
| Bust-up over climate weighs on EU-UK talks, risks trade rifts Posted: 25 May 2020 05:16 AM PDT |
| UN: Libya coast guard intercepts, detains about 400 migrants Posted: 25 May 2020 04:08 AM PDT |
| New York marks 'especially poignant' Memorial Day amid virus Posted: 25 May 2020 03:24 AM PDT  New Yorkers marked Memorial Day with car convoys and small ceremonies instead of big parades as the coronavirus reshaped the solemn holiday, blending tributes to virus victims and frontline workers with the traditional remembrance of the nation's war dead. At the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in Manhattan — the former aircraft carrier USS Intrepid — Gov. Andrew Cuomo honored both veterans and essential workers on a Memorial Day he called "especially poignant and powerful." In Rochester, officials looked ahead to the construction of the city's War on Terror Memorial.
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| Tory revolt grows to 22 MPs amid concerns that Dominic Cummings' actions could lead to more deaths Posted: 25 May 2020 01:45 AM PDT  A growing number of Conservative MPs are calling for Dominic Cummings to step down amid concerns that his actions may cost lives. More than a dozen backbenchers have defied the party whip to call for the departure of Boris Johnson's most senior aide from Number 10. On Sunday night, the Prime Minister launched a defence of Mr Cummings – but MPs and Cabinet colleagues have expressed fears that the move risked "seriously undermining" the Government's lockdown strategy. Former Brexit minister Steve Baker was the first to break ranks on Sunday when he warned that the aide was "burning through Boris's political capital at a rate that we just can ill afford in the midst of this crisis". Here are all the MPs who have criticised Mr Cummings and called for him to go: Steve Baker The senior member of the 1922 Committee of backbenchers toured TV studios on Sunday to insist that Mr Cummings "must go". He said: "If he doesn't resign, we'll just keep burning through Boris's political capital at a rate we can ill afford in the midst of this crisis. It is very clear that Dominic travelled when everybody else understood Dominic's slogans to mean 'stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives'. "He is not always right, he is certainly not indispensable to Boris. No one is. I just think this is the end of the road. He has at the very least not abided by the slogans that he has enforced on the rest of the country, and that is why he should go."
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| Russia’s Pushing a Quack COVID Cure All Over Africa Posted: 25 May 2020 01:40 AM PDT  ABUJA, Nigeria—U.S. President Donald Trump is not the only figure threatening the World Health Organization while endorsing dubious coronavirus treatments. In Africa, news outlets and social media posts notorious for spreading Russian-created disinformation and conspiracy theories are leveling all sorts of allegations against the WHO, ranging from incompetence to fraud.At the center of the attacks is what appears to be a coordinated campaign promoting an herbal concoction the Moscow-backed government of Madagascar claims will cure COVID-19. The attacks on the WHO intensified when the agency released a statement on May 4 warning Africans against using untested remedies for treatment of the coronavirus after the Malagasy government began to extoll—and export in large quantities—an untested herbal infusion sometimes bottled like soda that's called Covid-Organics. The main component for the tonic is artemisia annua, known as sweet wormwood, which has been shown to have some therapeutic value against malaria (PDF).Russians Are Using African Troll Factories—and Encrypted Messaging—to Attack the U.S.The WHO announced its support for traditional medicines if they are "scientifically proven" to be effective, but warned pointedly that "the use of products to treat COVID-19, which have not been robustly investigated can put people in danger, giving a false sense of security and distracting them from hand washing and physical distancing which are cardinal in COVID-19 prevention."The herbal remedy's biggest booster is Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina, a 45-year-old media entrepreneur elected in 2018 with help from Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose meddling, as detailed by the New York Times, was blatant even by Kremlin standards. (Rajoelina denies getting any assistance.)Covid-Organics has not gone through clinical trials. An aide to Rajoelina told the BBC the tonic was "tried out" on fewer than 20 people over three weeks before it was launched in April—a "test" that does not even begin to meet scientific or medical standards.Rajoelina's response? He accused the West of condescending behavior toward traditional African therapy, telling French media that the product would have been globally accepted "if it was a European country that had actually discovered this remedy.""[Madagascar] has come up with this formula to save the world," said Rajoelina, who claims the herbal tonic cures COVID-19 patients within 10 days. "No country or organization will keep us from going forward."Rajoelina has gained lots of support in East Africa, especially in Tanzania (another country that has established deep ties with the Kremlin in recent years). Its controversial leader, President John Pombe Magufuli, has openly endorsed Covid-Organics and also insinuated recently that the WHO artificially inflated the number of COVID-19 cases in his country.All this parallels, however weirdly, the kinds of assertions and statements made by the U.S. president about miracle cures—ranging in his case from hydroxychloroquine to household bleach, thought not yet Covid-Organics—as well as the failings of a World Health Organization he says is under China's thumb. And the similarities in the narrative are not entirely coincidental. Many of the African sites spreading these stories also are enthusiastic supporters of Trump. A number of Tanzanian newspapers have criticized the WHO for its refusal to approve Covid-Organics. A pro-government publication, Tanzania Perspective, particularly, reported that Rajoelina accused the WHO of offering him a $20 million bribe to poison the herbal tonic. A spokesperson for the Malagasy president later denied that wild claim, but not until it had gone viral on social media across the continent, including broadcasts on WhatsApp by such groups as One Africa, One Success (OAOS), a platform for African students studying in Russia that has been used to spread disinformation and conspiracy theories targeting the U.S. and defending Trump.Members of the OAOS have also claimed in their messages that Bill Gates has prevented the WHO from approving coronavirus therapies—including hydroxychloroquine—that supposedly have proven to be effective in Africa, a narrative that has been picked up by high-profile politicians in the continent and extended to Covid-Organics."Madagascar claims to have a herbal-based cure for Covid 19," tweeted Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Nigeria aviation minister and a die-hard Trump supporter. "Why is it that the @BillGates-controlled @WHO refuses to take Africans seriously even where some of these 'cures' have yielded appreciable positive results?"Back in Madagascar, numerous media outlets, some of which were used by Russia to publish fawning articles about Rajoelina to help him win the 2018 presidential election, have accused the WHO of ineffectiveness, claiming that the agency is being manipulated by certain high powers to undermine Madagascar's coronavirus treatment discovery."What you see mostly in the papers is that the WHO doesn't care about finding a coronavirus cure," Thierry Pam, a French freelance journalist living in Madagascar, told The Daily Beast. "No one says anything good about the WHO."One social media post that went viral across Africa in late April claimed that Putin actually ordered a million doses of Covid-Organics and called on Africans not to listen to the WHO. Agence France Presse (AFP) reported the story was totally bogus. There was never such an order, Madagascar's authorities denied it, and, officially at least, Russia usually supports WHO efforts to address the pandemic. But disinformation campaigns often are at odds with officially stated policies because their objectives are different. The focus of Russia's activities has been to drive a wedge between Africa and other international players, whether the U.S., European nations, or China. The Covid-Organics controversy is potentially just another tool to create resentment, as reflected in President Rajoelina's assertions that his country's "cure" for the pandemic is being ignored by the West because it is from Africa.Much of the news that people in Madagascar see or listen to is content created by media outlets set up by the operations of Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Putin who was indicted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller for allegedly financing the Internet Research Agency that worked to influence the U.S. 2016 presidential election.A leaked document viewed last year by The Guardian revealed that Russia "produced and distributed the island's biggest newspaper, with 2 million copies a month." The Russians also run a French-language news service, Afrique Panorama, based in Madagascar's capital Antananarivo, according to The Guardian's report.Madagascar is one of Africa's poorest nations, with about 80 percent of its 25 million people living on less than $2 per day, but it has managed to ship tens of thousands of doses of Covid-Organics to several countries, including Nigeria, Tanzania, Comoros, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Chad and Equatorial Guinea. Many of these reportedly have been sent for free, leading to suggestions that Madagascar may have gotten Russia's help to produce large amounts of the drug. Since his election, Rajoelina has promoted closer ties with Moscow. Most notably, he has strengthened his military cooperation and allowed a company owned by Prigozhin, which had acquired a major stake in a government-run firm that mines chromium under Rajoelina's predecessor, to keep control of the operation. This despite protests by workers complaining of canceled benefits and unpaid wages.Meanwhile, in a country where tests have been very limited, and some of those marred by controversy, hundreds of people are now known to be infected with the virus, and the numbers are rising rapidly. The first two confirmed COVID-19 deaths were reported just this week.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| Virus stalls work to keep alive a rare rhino subspecies Posted: 25 May 2020 12:40 AM PDT  It's not quite a case of coitus interruptus, but efforts to create a very special baby are definitely on hold. Groundbreaking work to keep alive the nearly extinct northern white rhino subspecies — population, two — by in-vitro fertilization has been stalled by travel restrictions. The two northern white rhinos are female.
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| Trump honors war dead in events colored by pandemic's threat Posted: 24 May 2020 09:39 PM PDT  President Donald Trump honored America's war dead Monday in back-to-back Memorial Day appearances colored by an epic struggle off the battlefield, against the coronavirus. Eager to demonstrate national revival from the pandemic, Trump doubled up on his public schedule, while threatening to pull the Republican National Convention out of Charlotte in August unless North Carolina's Democratic governor gives a quick green light to the party's plans to assemble en masse. The U.S. death toll from the pandemic approached 100,000; North Carolina two days earlier reported its largest daily increase yet in COVID-19 sickness.
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| Biden aims to move left without abandoning centrist roots Posted: 24 May 2020 09:15 PM PDT  Joe Biden worked out deals with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell. When he launched his presidential campaign, such overtures to Republicans were central to Biden's promise to "unify the country" and "restore the soul of the nation" after defeating President Donald Trump. Now that he's the presumptive Democratic nominee, Biden is sharpening his tone, still pitching consensus but touting a "bold agenda" aimed at mollifying progressives who remain skeptical he'll deliver enough on health care, student loan debts and the climate crisis.
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| CGTN: Opportunities amid crisis in economic development Posted: 24 May 2020 09:14 PM PDT  Chinese President Xi Jinping visited national political advisors from the economic sectors attending a joint group meeting at the third session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, according to a recent report by CGTN.
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| Coronavirus world round-up: US suspends travel from Brazil as cases surge Posted: 24 May 2020 06:34 PM PDT  Follow the latest coronavirus news in our daily live blog Read all our coronavirus coverage here President Donald Trump on Sunday further limited travel from the world's coronavirus hotspots by denying entry to foreigners coming from Brazil, which is second to the US in the number of confirmed cases. Mr Trump had already banned certain travellers from China, Europe, the United Kingdom and Ireland and, to a lesser extent, Iran. He has not moved to ban travel from Russia, which has the world's third-highest caseload. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany cast the step announced on Sunday as another "decisive action to protect our country" by Mr Trump, whose management of the crisis has come under sharp scrutiny. The US leads the world with more than 1.6 million confirmed coronavirus cases and a death toll that is expected to surpass 100,000 later this week, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
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| Iran reopens key shrines after two-month virus closure Posted: 24 May 2020 05:54 PM PDT  Iran on Monday reopened major Shiite shrines across the Islamic republic, more than two months after they were closed, as it reported its lowest deaths from coronavirus since March. At Tehran's Shah Abdol-Azim shrine, worshippers had to wear a mask, walk through a disinfection tunnel and have their temperature checked as they began returning from the early morning, according to AFP reporters. Shah Abdol-Azim is a descendant of Imam Hassan, a grandson of Prophet Mohammad.
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| Donald Trump bans entry to foreigners coming from coronavirus hotspot Brazil Posted: 24 May 2020 05:20 PM PDT  President Donald Trump on Sunday further limited travel from the world's coronavirus hotspots by denying entry to foreigners coming from Brazil, which is second to the US in the number of confirmed cases. Mr Trump had already banned certain travellers from China, Europe, the United Kingdom and Ireland and, to a lesser extent, Iran. He has not moved to ban travel from Russia, which has the world's third-highest caseload. Mr Trump had said last week that he was considering limiting travel from Brazil. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany cast the step announced on Sunday as another "decisive action to protect our country" by Mr Trump, whose management of the crisis has come under sharp scrutiny. The US leads the world with more than 1.6 million confirmed coronavirus cases and a death toll that is expected to surpass 100,000 later this week, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Brazil, now Latin America's hardest-hit country, is second, with more than 347,000 cases and more than 22,000 deaths. Third on the list is Russia, with more than 344,000 reported cases and more than 3,500 deaths. The White House did not immediately respond to queries about whether a travel ban would be imposed on Russia.
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| Baby gorilla badly injured in family skirmish at Seattle zoo Posted: 24 May 2020 02:00 PM PDT  A baby gorilla was badly injured at a Seattle zoo on Saturday when he was caught in a skirmish between his family group members, zookeepers said. Animal health experts at the Woodland Park Zoo say little Kitoko was bitten on the head, likely by accident when another gorilla tried to bite his mother, Uzumma. Kitoko sustained a fractured skull and a severe laceration, but zoo officials say the 2-month-old gorilla underwent surgery and may fully recover if he doesn't develop an infection.
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