| Coronavirus: South Africa eases strict lockdown as cases drop Posted: 16 Sep 2020 05:17 PM PDT  From 20 September a curfew will be eased, bigger gatherings allowed, and alcohol will be on sale.
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| Police reforms in Breonna Taylor case praised, scrutinized Posted: 16 Sep 2020 04:41 PM PDT  A settlement between the family of Breonna Taylor and the city of Louisville could bring wide-ranging reforms to how police officers live and work, changes that would represent a rare outcome in a police misconduct lawsuit. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer outlined what he described as "significant" reforms on Tuesday as part of an announcement that the city would pay $12 million to Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer.
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| Exam ordered for Pakistani doctor charged with terrorism Posted: 16 Sep 2020 04:02 PM PDT |
| UN chief urges Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate now Posted: 16 Sep 2020 03:25 PM PDT |
| New York judge blasts U.S. prosecutors' conduct in Iran sanctions case Posted: 16 Sep 2020 02:52 PM PDT |
| Wildfire smoke brings haze, vivid sunsets to East Coast Posted: 16 Sep 2020 02:30 PM PDT  The smoke from dozens of wildfires in the western United States is stretching clear across the country — and even pushing into Mexico, Canada and Europe. The wildfires racing across tinder-dry landscape in California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington are extraordinary, but the long reach of their smoke isn't unprecedented. The sun was transformed into a perfect orange orb as it set over New York City on Tuesday.
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| Uganda jail break: More than 200 prisoners escape Moroto facility Posted: 16 Sep 2020 02:24 PM PDT  At least two fugitives have been killed, as well as one soldier, as the security forces give chase.
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| Biden says he trusts vaccines and scientists, not Trump Posted: 16 Sep 2020 02:18 PM PDT  Joe Biden said Wednesday that while he trusts what scientists say about a potential coronavirus vaccine, he doesn't trust President Donald Trump. Trump and Biden have been trading accusations that the other is undermining public trust in a potential coronavirus vaccine. Biden has expressed concerns that the vaccine approval process could be politicized, while Trump and his allies counter that such comments from Biden and other Democrats are turning off the public to a potentially lifesaving vaccine when it's released.
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| Judge orders all federal prosecutors in Manhattan to read opinion on withholding evidence Posted: 16 Sep 2020 01:52 PM PDT  U.S. District Court Judge Allison Nathan's ruling was related to a criminal case involving alleged violations of sanctions against Iran.
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| Leader of Libya’s UN-backed gov't wants to hand over power Posted: 16 Sep 2020 01:37 PM PDT  The head of Libya's U.N.-supported government said Wednesday night that he wants to hand over power to a new administration in October, amid peace talks on ending the country's yearslong conflict. Fayez Serraj said the U.N.-brokered talks between the country's rival factions have led to a "new preparatory phase" to unify Libyan institutions and prepare for parliamentary and presidential elections. Oil-rich Libya was plunged into chaos when a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 toppled longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi, who was later killed.
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| Oklahoma's epidemiologist warned of Trump rally deaths Posted: 16 Sep 2020 01:27 PM PDT  Oklahoma's former state epidemiologist warned that President Donald Trump's rally in Tulsa in June could lead to as many as nine deaths and 228 new cases of COVID-19, according to documents released Wednesday. The documents released by the Oklahoma State Department of Health in response to an open records request show that the state's former epidemiologist, Aaron Wendelboe, warned state and Tulsa health officials of the dire consequences if the rally were held, though his projection was based on it drawing an estimated 19,000 Trump supporters and only about 6,200 actually showed up. "I am advocating here for clear communication of the risk of holding a mass gathering," Wendelboe wrote in an email to Dr. Bruce Dart, the director of the Tulsa Health Department, five days before Trump's June 20 rally at a downtown Tulsa arena.
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| Pompeo confident UK will resolve EU standoff Posted: 16 Sep 2020 12:48 PM PDT  US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo voiced confidence Wednesday that Britain would find a "good outcome" in its standoff with the European Union over Brexit terms.
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| Why some world alliances endure Posted: 16 Sep 2020 12:24 PM PDT |
| Second lockdown would be 'disastrous' for the economy, Boris Johnson warns Posted: 16 Sep 2020 12:15 PM PDT  A second lockdown would be an economic "disaster" for the UK, Boris Johnson said as he acknowledged that the testing system was experiencing "huge problems." In his second appearance before the Commons powerful liaison committee this year, the Prime Minister fielded questions on the surge in covid-19 infections, testing shortages and his handling of the Brexit negotiations. During the 103-minute session, Mr Johnson insisted that reimposing nationwide restrictions would be "completely wrong for this country" and warned that the impact on the public finances would be "disastrous." However, he pushed back against criticism of the tightening of social distancing measures through the rule of six, telling MPs that ministers would do everything necessary to "defeat the disease". Schools contributing to testing shortages With the Government implementing rationing to cope with a surge in demand for covid-19 tests, Mr Johnson suggested that overly cautious parents and teachers could be exacerbating shortages nationwide. Asked by former business secretary Greg Clark whether the UK had sufficient testing capacity, Mr Johnson said the "short answer is no" but insisted that ministers would "work night and day" to bolster capacity in the coming weeks. While acknowledging the system was facing "huge problems" he pointed out that the Government had already "expanded testing enormously", with the UK testing more people per head than Germany, France and Spain. But in order to cope with surging demand, he said ministers intended to hit 500,000 tests per day by the end of October, which he said would make a "very substantial difference." Pressed on why shortages were occurring, Mr Johnson said demand had accelerated in recent weeks partly because people were seeking to be "released to get on with their lives in the normal way." Although this was "perfectly reasonable," he said the guidance made clear that people should only seek a test when they have symptoms. On schools, he added that teachers should not be sending home whole year groups or classroom bubbles until a pupil in that cohort had test positive for covid-19. "It's very important that teachers, parents, should look at the guidance...about when you should get a test," he continued. Quizzed on the ambition to roll out "Moonshot" mass testing in the future, Mr Johnson admitted that the UK was still a "long way off" rapid pregnancy-style tests, which he said could liberate sectors such as the arts and spectator sport. More deaths to come Mr Johnson pushed back against calls for England to follow Scotland and Wales in exempting younger children from the new "rule of six", pointing out it was "alas a fact of the disease that is readily transmissible between children and adults." Asked by Labour's Catherine McKinnell whether he would consider looking again at the restrictions, the Prime Minister said it risked increasing the risk at a time when transmission between the young to the old was already on the rise. He added that incidence of the disease among those aged over 80 had increased significantly over recent days, and now stood at 12 people per 100,000. And while the number of cases remains far fewer than during the peak of the first wave, he warned that this trend would result in an uptick of fatalities. "Alas, although the number of cases, symptomatic or asymptomatic, is obviously far smaller than it was in the Spring, we must expect those infections to lead, proportionally, to mortality," Mr Johnson added. Asked by Conservative MP Will Wragg when he would hold a public inquiry into the Government's response to the pandemic, Mr Johnson said that dwelling on the subject would not a "good use of official time at the moment."
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| Takeaways: Trump's town hall offered preview of debates Posted: 16 Sep 2020 11:53 AM PDT  President Donald Trump's town hall in front of undecided Pennsylvania voters offered an intriguing preview of how he may approach his first debate against Democratic nominee Joe Biden in two weeks. Tuesday night's event on ABC featured predictable attack lines and vague promises of policy from Trump.
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| Al-Shabab militant jailed for attack on US base in Kenya Posted: 16 Sep 2020 11:45 AM PDT  The al-Shabab member has been sentenced to life in prison for his role in the attack in Kenya.
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| In `law and order' debate, data can be molded to suit moment Posted: 16 Sep 2020 11:39 AM PDT  President Donald Trump points to spiking crime and delivers stark statistics on murders and shootings as part of his "law and order" campaign emphasis that suggests cities are overrun with violence that only he can stop. Several cities have seen a sobering surge in murders this summer, but those numbers are only a small snapshot of crime in the United States, and his strategy is highlighting how data can be easily molded to suit the moment. At a televised town hall event Tuesday for undecided voters in Pennsylvania, Trump spoke about how he believed crime was soaring in cities after nationwide protests against police brutality.
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| Joe Biden tells UK Good Friday Agreement will not become a 'casualty of Brexit' if he is president Posted: 16 Sep 2020 11:22 AM PDT  Joe Biden, the US Democratic presidential nominee, has said he would not allow the Good Friday Agreement to become a "casualty of Brexit" if he is elected president. Mr Biden waded into the issue as Dominic Raab, Foreign Secretary, tried to reassure US politicians during a trip to Washington that Britain's support for the peace accord with Northern Ireland was "absolute". "We can't allow the Good Friday Agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland to become a casualty of Brexit," tweeted the former vice-president, who is going up against President Donald Trump in November. He warned that any trade deal between the US and UK "must be contingent upon respect for the agreement and preventing the return of a hard border." Mr Biden's comments following a meeting between Mr Raab and Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in the House of Representatives, who said if the UK "violates its international agreements" and Brexit "undermines the Good Friday accord", there will be "absolutely no chance of a US-UK trade agreement passing the Congress." Mrs Pelosi said the lower house of Congress, which is currently controlled by her party, would defend the 1998 agreement as a "beacon of hope for peace-loving people throughout the whole world".
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| U.S. threatens to sanction arms makers that sell to Iran Posted: 16 Sep 2020 10:46 AM PDT |
| State denies improper IG firing, defends Saudi arms sales Posted: 16 Sep 2020 10:43 AM PDT  The State Department on Wednesday rejected Democrats' charges of improperly firing its independent inspector general and defended its weapons sales to Saudi Arabia. Democrats say the two are connected because Steve Linick, the former IG, told lawmakers in June that at the time of his firing, his office had been probing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's emergency declaration that sped up the $8 billion in arms sales.
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| Health official on leave amid political interference furor Posted: 16 Sep 2020 10:37 AM PDT  A Trump health appointee is taking a leave of absence after allegations of political interference in the federal coronavirus response, followed by a personal video that warned of election violence and all but equated science with resistance. Michael Caputo has decided to take 60 days "to focus on his health and the well-being of his family," the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement. Fiercely loyal to President Donald Trump, Caputo had been serving as the department's top spokesman, a post that usually is not overtly political.
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| Pompeo insists US to enforce 'UN' sanctions on Iran Posted: 16 Sep 2020 10:14 AM PDT  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo insisted Wednesday the United States will enforce new "UN" sanctions on Iran starting next week, despite overwhelming consensus that Washington is out of bounds.
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| Iraqi army: Rocket hits Baghdad's Green Zone; no casualties Posted: 16 Sep 2020 09:42 AM PDT |
| Maduro accused of committing crimes against humanity in damning U.N. report Posted: 16 Sep 2020 09:27 AM PDT  The Venezuelan regime led by Nicolás Maduro has committed "egregious violations" since 2014 "amounting to crimes against humanity," a United Nations report published Wednesday says.
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| UK's Raab says EU threatening Irish peace plan over Brexit Posted: 16 Sep 2020 09:14 AM PDT |
| UK's Raab says we can do a 'win-win' U.S. trade deal Posted: 16 Sep 2020 09:06 AM PDT |
| Biodiversity report says 150 countries have failed to address environmental crisis Posted: 16 Sep 2020 09:05 AM PDT  The United Nations (UN) released its Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO) and the verdict is not good. A decade ago, 150 countries met in Aichi, Japan to set goals to address climate change and the environmental crisis. Rather than causing a panic, the UN team hopes it will be a catalyst for governments to take action.
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| Vision 2020: What happens if the US election is contested? Posted: 16 Sep 2020 09:00 AM PDT  Is it possible the election will be up in the air and we won't have a president on Inauguration Day: Jan. 20, 2021? The Constitution and federal law ensure it. During the 2000 election, the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately ended Florida's vote recount, saying time had run out before electors were set to meet.
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| AP Photo Gallery: Sally's deluge swamps streets, ruins cars Posted: 16 Sep 2020 08:21 AM PDT  Hurricane Sally's storm surge and torrential rain inundated a stretch of the Gulf Coast on Wednesday, damaging parked cars and prompting many calls for evacuations. The slow-moving hurricane came ashore before dawn in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and moved inland between Mobile, Alabama, and Pensacola, dumping a deluge on urban areas whose combined populations total nearly 1 million people. Many will need to be evacuated from rising water, said Sheriff David Morgan in Escambia County, where deputies were rescuing dozens of people from swamped homes.
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| Oracle’s TikTok Deal Pours Trump Toxin Into Capitalism Posted: 16 Sep 2020 08:20 AM PDT |
| Tehran tells World Court U.S. sanctions breach friendship treaty Posted: 16 Sep 2020 08:17 AM PDT |
| Israeli minor gets 3 1/2 years for role in deadly 2015 arson Posted: 16 Sep 2020 08:13 AM PDT  An Israeli court sentenced a young man on Wednesday to 3 1/2 years in prison for his role in the 2015 arson attack that killed a Palestinian toddler and his parents in the West Bank village of Duma. It was the second sentencing this week by the Lod District Court in the deadly 2015 Duma arson attack. On Monday, the court handed Amiram Ben-Uliel, a Jewish settler, four life sentences for the killing of 18-month-old Ali Dawabsheh in a firebomb attack on the family's home.
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| Story of the Underground Railroad to Mexico gains attention Posted: 16 Sep 2020 08:10 AM PDT  While researching U.S. Civil War history in South Texas, Roseann Bacha-Garza came across the two unique families of the Jacksons and the Webbers living along the Rio Grande. The two families' ranches served as a stop on the Underground Railroad to Mexico, descendants said. Across Texas and parts of Louisiana, Alabama, and Arkansas, scholars and preservation advocates are working to piece together the story of a largely forgotten part of American history: a network that helped thousands of Black slaves escape to Mexico.
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| Ireland plans 2021 budget on basis of no Brexit trade deal Posted: 16 Sep 2020 07:35 AM PDT  Ireland's 2021 budget will be prepared on the basis that Brexit trade talks between Britain and the EU will fail, the government in Dublin said Wednesday.
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| Unicef condemns jailing of Nigeria teen for 'blasphemy' Posted: 16 Sep 2020 07:25 AM PDT  The 13-year-old was sentenced to 10 years in prison for blasphemy by an Islamic court in Kano.
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| Kellogg Company Exceeds Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goal Ahead of Schedule Posted: 16 Sep 2020 07:00 AM PDT  According to the United Nations, to curb the devastating effects of climate change on the global food supply, the world must halve greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. As part of its Kellogg's® Better Days commitment, Kellogg is making tremendous progress limiting GHG emissions in its operations by using low carbon and renewable energy sources, purchasing renewable electricity and increasing energy efficiency. Since 2015, Kellogg has reduced scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions in its manufacturing plants by more than 28%, and exceeded one year ahead of schedule its goal to reduce GHG emissions by 15% per pound of food produced.
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| I am a Doctor and Have Some Urgent News About COVID Posted: 16 Sep 2020 06:57 AM PDT  As a doctor, I know new information is coming in daily about COVID-19. By keeping up to date, you can make sensible decisions to help keep you and our family from becoming infected. Here's the latest information you need to know about COVID-19, from A to Z. You may find some surprising facts and new resources. The more you know, the more you can protect yourself and those you love. Read on, and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus.1 A: AgeOlder people are more at risk of dying from COVID. Although the death rate is around 1% for the overall population, that rises to 3.6% for those over 60, 14% over 70, and 14.8% over 80, according to the COVID Evidence Service. Eight out of 10 COVID deaths in the U.S. have been in adults over 65.Anyone over 50 should take serious precautions to avoid the disease, especially if you have other risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, or heart disease.The CDC recommends that older people limit social contact as much as possible. If you decide to go out, take steps to prevent becoming infected: * Plan your trip. * Stay outdoors wherever possible. * Keep at least six feet from other people. * Wear a mask over your nose and mouth whenever you're meeting others indoors, taking public transportation, or in a place where social distancing is difficult. * Wash your hands before and after every visit.The highest risk is attending large gatherings where attendees are from households you don't know.2 B: Black and Ethnic Minority Groups (BAME)According to a recent review in The Lancet, in the U.S., Black people are 13.4% of the population but account for 28% to 70% of COVID deaths (depending on the state). In majority-Black communities, rates of COVID infection are three times than in mostly white communities.The reasons aren't well understood. The journal Current Problems in Cardiology recently reported that BAME groups tend to have higher levels of comorbidities such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Black households are more likely to be overcrowded and have poorer living conditions. Whether there are any specific biological factors putting them at higher risk is unclear.3 C: Contact TracingIf you test positive to COVID-19, anyone you've recently been in close contact with is contacted. They're advised to self-isolate for 14 days to avoid passing on the virus. A "close contact" is anyone who has been within six feet of you for at least 15 minutes, in the two days before developing symptoms, or before obtaining a positive test result.Contact tracing is one of the key tools for controlling the pandemic. Considering that 80% of people with COVID-19 infection are asymptomatic, asymptomatic patients are as infectious as symptomatic patients, and one person may potentially infect 406 others in 30 days, contact tracing can prevent a huge amount of disease.Contact tracing is usually performed by trained health advisers. In the US, the government has recognized the need to increase contact tracing, and efforts are underway at a cost of more than $46 billion.4 D: DeathWhat's the overall chance of dying if you get infected with COVID-19?According to the journal Nature, scientists have established a calculation called the infection fatality rate (IFR). This is more complicated than you might think. Many cases are not reported, so it's impossible to know exactly how much of the population has been infected.The current IFR is 0.5% to 1%. This means that for every 1,000 people infected, 5 to 10 will die.This figure varies between countries and according to specific risk factors, including age, sex, and comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.5 E: Epidemic (or Pandemic)What's the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic? * A local cluster of infections is called an outbreak. * An outbreak which affects a population or a community is called an epidemic. * An epidemic which spreads to many different countries is called a pandemic.(Here's a memory device: The word pandemic has the letter "p," like passport, because it's an epidemic that travels.)Previous pandemics have had huge death tolls. The influenza pandemic of 1918 killed 30 to 50 million people. The HIV/AIDS pandemic has killed 32.7 million. It remains to be seen what the final toll from COVID-19 will be.RELATED: COVID Mistakes You Should Never Make6 F: Financial CostThe COVID-19 pandemic may cost the world $82 trillion over the next five years. That's the prediction from the Center for Risk Studies at the University of Cambridge Business School. In the U.S. alone, it will cost between $550 billion to $19.9 trillion. Considering the history of previous pandemics, economists suggest the financial effects of COVID-19 will be felt for the next 40 years.7 G: Grasp the SymptomsCOVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Infected people have had a wide range of symptoms reported – from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have—or have had—COVID-19: * Fever or chills * Cough * Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing * Fatigue * Muscle or body aches * Headache * New loss of taste or smell * Sore throat * Congestion or runny nose * Nausea or vomiting * DiarrheaLook for emergency warning signs for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately: * Trouble breathing * Persistent pain or pressure in the chest * New confusion * Inability to wake or stay awake * Bluish lips or faceCall your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.8 H: Hand HygieneProper handwashing is mandatory to control the spread of COVID-19. Follow the CDC handwashing recommendations.Quiz yourself: Here are five statements about handwashing. Are they true or false? * As long as you use soap, it doesn't matter how long you wash your hands. * If you use a hand sanitizing gel, it's just as good as handwashing for removing germs. * You must use very hot water to get rid of the most germs. * There's no real need to dry your hands. * Always use a hand dryer, not a paper towel.The answers are all false. You do need to wash your hands for 15 to 30 seconds to make sure you remove most bacteria and viruses. Soap and water are more effective than the recommended 60% sanitizing gel at removing bacteria and viruses. If water is too hot, it can dry out your skin, which can crack and make it more susceptible to infection. When hands are wet, they transfer bacteria and viruses more easily, so it is important to dry them. And finally: Air dryers can spread bacteria, so use paper towels instead.9 I: Immune Response Most people develop an antibody response to COVID-19 within 10 to 21 days of becoming infected. For people with mild infections, it may take four weeks. But sometimes, there seems to be no measurable antibody response at all.People with severe COVID-19 infection tend to produce the highest levels of antibodies. Even people with undetectable antibodies can recover from COVID-19 infection.Immunologists are concerned that the antibody response may not provide long-lasting protection, meaning there may be a chance you could become reinfected in the future. However, there have been no reported reinfections to date.10 J: JusticeAmerican Justice Department officials state that if you intentionally spread COVID-19, this could result in prosecution under US anti-terrorism laws. COVID is a biological agent, and transmitting it could be construed as using a weapon.RELATED: Everything Dr. Fauci Has Said About Coronavirus11 K: Kids' HealthChildren seem less likely to become infected with COVID-19, and when they do, the illness tends to be less severe.The Lancet recently reported a snapshot of COVID-19 infection in children and young people in the first three weeks of April 2020 in 25 European countries. In total, 582 people under 18 tested positive to COVID-19 infection. The most common age was 5. Sixty-two percent were admitted to the hospital, 8% to the ICU, and 4% needed mechanical ventilation. Four children died.Children's role in transmitting the infection is unclear. One Chinese study found zero cases of a child transmitting the infection to an adult. Another mathematical modeling study found that school closures would only reduce mortality from COVID by 2% to 4%. Now that schools are reopening, careful surveillance is underway.12 L: LungsCOVID-19 is a respiratory illness characterized by fever and a dry cough. The virus results in pneumonia, which can progress to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and sepsis.Once inhaled, viral particles are transported deep into the lungs, where they cause intense inflammation. The alveoli—the tiny air sacs where oxygen is absorbed into the bloodstream—fill with fluid. This reduces your ability to take in oxygen, and you feel breathless. It's dangerous for your body to be low in oxygen, which affects the function of every organ. If this becomes severe, this condition is known as ARDS.Although most COVID-19 infections are mild, 15% or people will develop more severe lung disease and 5% require mechanical ventilation. Doctors worry that some people can develop long-term lung damage after severe COVID-19 pneumonia, called pulmonary fibrosis.13 M: Mental HealthCOVID-19 has taken a major toll on our mental health. In a recent meta-analysis published in the journal Globalization and Health, the authors reported the prevalence of stress (29.6%), anxiety (31.9%), and depression (33.7%) in people surveyed.Mental health conditions have important consequences for overall health. Stress has been shown to significantly affect mortality. Anxiety weakens the immune system and increases the risk of acquiring the virus.For more information, see the CDC's Coping With Stress page, which has links to many helpful websites and phone numbers.14 N: Nasal SwabTo be tested for COVID-19, you will usually be asked to have a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab taken. If the test is positive, the test is 98% reliable. If the test is negative, the reliability of a true negative test—meaning you are definitely not infected—is lower, between 71% to 98%. If you have symptoms and the test is negative, it may be a good idea to have the test repeated. For how to get a COVID test in the US, click here.15 O: OutbreakHow the COVID-19 virus was created is still not definitively known. Scientists think it originated in a Chinese wet market from a coronavirus found in bats. One theory is that the virus was transferred from a bat to a pangolin. The pangolin may also have been infected with a coronavirus, and the two viruses then shared genetic sequences. The new, mutated virus—COVID-19—could have been transferred to humans by inhalation of the animals' infected respiratory droplets, via the food chain, or through contaminated urine or feces. After the COVID-19 pandemic began, Chinese authorities ordered wet markets to close. They have recently reopened but are prohibited from selling wildlife.RELATED: I'm a Doctor and Here's When You Can Safely Keep Your Mask Off16 P: PreventionThere's no magic wand to make COVID-19 disappear. To beat the virus, we all need to work together and follow government advice, which is based on scientific opinion.The CDC and WHO have compiled the following recommendations: * Avoid large gatherings of people. * Stay at least six feet away from people you don't live with. * Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and dry your hands afterward. * If you're not at home and can't wash your hands, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol instead. * Use a mask to cover your nose and mouth whenever you're somewhere where social distancing is difficult (or example in a supermarket, or on public transportation). A cloth mask is sufficient. It does not need to be a specialized hospital mask. * Cover your face when you sneeze or cough using a tissue, and dispose of it in a waste bin. * Try not to touch your face. * Keep things you touch clean: door handles, the computer mouse, kitchen worktops, and light switches. * If you feel sick, stay away from others, and don't share any cooking or eating utensils or household items. * If you have COVID-19 symptoms, such as a cough and a fever, or have been in contact with anyone who has tested positive, go into quarantine right away.17 Q: QuarantineYou need to quarantine if you've been in contact with anyone who has recently tested positive for COVID-19. This means staying at home and keeping away from other family members for 14 days, until you're sure you're not infected. You should take your temperature twice a day.If the risk of having the infection is high, the doctor will advise you to go into isolation. This means staying in your bedroom and away from the rest of the family. You need separate eating utensils and, if possible, to use your own bathroom.18 R: RecoveryBased on data from Wuhan, China, WHO reports that most people with mild disease recover from COVID-19 within two weeks. For those with severe disease, this may be three to six weeks. About 5% of COVID patients require admission to ICU. If you need mechanical ventilation, overall survival is about 60%.Those discharged from ICU face a range of physical, mental, and social issues. Patients may remain breathless and have a chronic cough. They may have swallowing difficulties. They may be weak and lacking in energy. Some may have developed other medical issues such as pulmonary emboli or heart problems. Depression, anxiety, and PTSD are extremely common. This all requires rehabilitation and takes many months.There is mounting concern that some patients with severe COVID may develop pulmonary fibrosis, or scarring of the lungs. More research is required, but pulmonary fibrosis is a serious, irreversible lung disease.19 S: Social DistancingSocial distancing means keeping at least a six-foot distance between yourself and other people. Why six feet?Several studies have concluded that most exhaled respiratory droplets travel less than three feet, then fall to the ground. However, other studies have shown that smaller particles can travel about six feet, and coughing or sneezing can cause those droplets to travel much further distances. Breathing in a few virus particles is unlikely to result in infection. Precisely how much virus you need to breathe in to become infected (a.k.a. viral load) is not known.Outdoors, the virus is immediately affected by air temperature, humidity, wind, and air currents, so it dissipates rapidly. You are very unlikely to become infected outdoors. It's best to meet friends and family outdoors and stay outdoors whenever you can.20 T: TreatmentThere is still no cure for COVID-19. Researchers are desperately searching for a successful treatment. More than 2,000 clinical trials are underway.The RECOVERY Trial recently reported that dexamethasone, a powerful steroid, has been found to reduce deaths in those with the worst respiratory disease.On July 4, the WHO announced that trials of hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were being discontinued, as the drugs had been found to be ineffective.In the UK, a trial is underway on an inhaled interferon beta (IFN-β). This is a protein produced in the body which plays an important role in the immune response and helps prevent viral replication.Some encouraging results are emerging for the drug remdesivir. This is a broad-spectrum antiviral previously used to treat hepatitis C. In patients with severe COVID, initial results with remdesivir suggest faster recovery times compared to placebo.RELATED: I'm an Infectious Disease Doctor and Would Never Touch This21 U: Update: Second PeakThe Daily Telegraph recently reported statistics about countries now experiencing a second peak of COVID-19 infection. Some countries which have come out of lockdown have had to reinstate those measures. * In Victoria, Australia, the increase coincides with the start of the Australian winter, a time when seasonal flu is usually also on the rise. * In Israel, a second peak has been attributed to coming out of lockdown too quickly. * In Iran, experts believe the second peak is due to non-compliance with social distancing rules. * In Saudi Arabia, the second peak is attributed to the rich/poor divide. The virus is mainly spreading in poor immigrant workers. * In Japan, 70% of new infections are in younger people, who frequent clubs, restaurants, and bars.In the USA, the infection curve looks very different. As the initial numbers of cases continue to rise, it does not yet appear to have passed the first peak. There are fears for how the US will fare this winter if the virus is still spreading uncontrolled. Social distancing seems vital for control of the infection.22 V: VaccineTo date, 140 COVID-19 vaccines are at various stages of development, and 13 are being tested in human trials. While many of us have pinned our hopes on a successful vaccine, we need to accept that this may never be achieved.First, COVID-19 is a coronavirus. The common cold is caused by many coronaviruses. We know that in general, coronavirus infections do not result in long-lasting immunity. This means people can be re-infected. There has never been a successful vaccine for the common cold.Second, scientists have been unable to produce a vaccine for the coronaviruses that cause Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which caused lethal outbreaks in 2003 and 2012 respectively.23 W: What Is the R-Value?R is a measure of how many people will become infected if one person has the virus. * If R is 1, this means the outbreak is standing still. * If R is greater than 1, the virus is spreading more rapidly. * If R is less than 1, the virus is dying out.Data from the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, suggested an R of 5.7. In the UK on June 19th, the government reported an R of 0.7-0.9. At this level, viral spread is thought to be under control.In the USA, R values for each state were published on July 9. R varies between 0.85 in Connecticut to 1.36 in Montana.24 X: XX ChromosomesEarly in the pandemic, New Scientist reported that men were more likely to get severe COVID infection and to die from it.In December 2019, The Lancet described the first 99 people admitted to hospital with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China. Twice as many men were admitted as women, and 75% of deaths were in males.The exact reasons for this are still not entirely clear. However: * The genes for the immune response are on the X chromosome. (Women have two X chromosomes and men only have one.) * In China, male smokers far outnumber female smokers. Only 5% of women smoke. Smokers are more susceptible to COVID-19 infection. * Women's bodies produce estrogen and progesterone, which may have a positive effect on the immune system. * Men may be less hygienic than women, the study authors suggested.25 Y: YouCertain risk factors make you more susceptible to being infected with COVID-19 and having a more severe infection. * Age: Risk increases with advancing years. In the UK, retirees are 34 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than people of working age. Almost one-third of UK COVID deaths have been in people living in residential care homes. * Medical conditions: The following conditions increase your risk of contracting COVID: Obesity, type-2 diabetes, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney disease, sickle cell disease, and being immunocompromised.Some other medical conditions may also be significant, but the evidence is less strong (e.g. asthma, pregnancy, and smoking). For a list of these medical conditions, visit the CDC website.If you have any of the risk factors on this list, follow the advice about how to protect yourself even more carefully.26 Z: Zip CodeSearch for COVID details in your area by using the CNN COVID zipcode tracker.The CDC also publishes a COVID data tracker.You can track COVID cases around the world using Worldometer.And to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don't miss these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.Dr. Deborah Lee is a medical writer at Dr Fox Online Pharmacy.
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| US sanctions Gambia's ex-First Lady Zineb Jammeh Posted: 16 Sep 2020 06:33 AM PDT  Zineb Jammeh's assets in the US are blocked as her husband is accused of stealing at least $50m.
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| During the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 75) CAF America Highlights Charitable Giving Related to COVID-19 and Sustainable Development Goals Posted: 16 Sep 2020 06:31 AM PDT  As the United Nations General Assembly opens its 75th session, CAF America, America's nonprofit leader in international grantmaking, will share its charitable giving expertise across a host of events that take place in parallel to the first week of UNGA.
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| Mozambique video of killing fake, says defence minister Posted: 16 Sep 2020 06:12 AM PDT  The footage shows a naked women being beaten then shot dead by men wearing army uniforms.
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| Palestinian refugee agency warns of instability amid crisis Posted: 16 Sep 2020 05:23 AM PDT  The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees is experiencing a financial crisis that could force it to halt some services to an already impoverished population of more than 5 million people, the head of the agency said Wednesday. Philippe Lazzarini also warned in an interview with The Associated Press in Beirut that the spread of coronavirus, an economic meltdown in Lebanon and a huge deficit in UNRWA's budget are deepening the hopelessness among Palestinian refugees, some of whom are trying to flee the Mediterranean nation on migrant boats. UNRWA was established to aid the 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were forced from their homes during the war surrounding Israel's establishment in 1948.
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| Health Expert: 'We're Looking at 2022' Until COVID is Over Posted: 16 Sep 2020 05:10 AM PDT  As cities reopen, there's a sense that normalcy isn't too far around the corner. Don't be fooled. Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, chief science officer at the World Health Organization in Geneva, said Tuesday, speaking to reporters during a virtual meeting hosted by the United Nations Foundation, that we're still in the middle of it. "The way that people are picturing it is that in January you have vaccines for the whole world and things will start going back to normal," Swaminathan told reporters. But that "is not how it works." Read on for her realistic prediction for how long this will last—and to protect your health, and the health of others, don't miss this essential list of the Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus. Dr. Swaminathan Said This Will Last For a 'Long Time to Come'"We're looking at 2022 at least before enough people start getting the vaccine to build immunity. So for a long time to come, we have to maintain the same kind of measures that are currently being put in place with physical distancing, the masking and respiratory hygiene," said Swaminathan. "Those will have to continue after the vaccine starts getting rolled out, because we need 60% to 70% of the population to have immunity before you will start seeing a dramatic reduction in transmission of this virus," Swaminathan said. "We also don't know how long these vaccines will protect for—that's the other big question mark: How long does immunity last? And it's possible that you will need a booster."RELATED: COVID Mistakes You Should Never Make Bill Gates Agrees With This AssessmentSwaminathan's remarks come the same week as an interview Bill Gates gave to New York Magazine. "In the very best case, two years from now, you would be, for some of the health things in particular, ideally back at where you were at the beginning of 2020," said the tech guru and philanthropist, credited by some with predicting the pandemic in a 2015 Ted Talk. "That is, if we're lucky enough that several of these vaccines work, including the ones that are low cost enough that we can scale the manufacturing. And if we get the factories going and we get the money to buy it for the entire world….In that case, during 2021, the pandemic is going down, and in 2022, the global pandemic comes to an end. Could we sit here two years from now and say, "Okay, during that time, not only did we end the pandemic; did we also restore the vaccination services and catch up to the kids that got missed? Could we restore the malaria work and HIV work that was lost to the pandemic?"As for yourself: To shorten the lifespan of COVID-19, wear a mask, social distance, only run essential errands, avoid crowds—and to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don't miss these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.
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| Brexit's Internal Market Bill explained: what is it, and why is it so controversial? Posted: 16 Sep 2020 05:09 AM PDT  This was first published in The Telegraph's Refresher newsletter. For more facts and explanation behind the week's biggest political stories, sign up to the Refresher here – straight to your inbox every Wednesday afternoon for free. What's the story? Aroused from their slumbers with hackles up, the backbench pack were prepared to show some teeth. It was the chairman of the 1922 committee who seemed to sum up the mood. "If you keep whacking a dog, don't be surprised when it bites you back," Sir Charles Walker warned before joining 29 of his colleagues to abstain on the Government's new Brexit legislation. Boris Johnson might have gone on to comfortably win his first Commons battle over the Internal Market Bill, but rebels believe many MPs have simply decided to "hold their fire". An amendment from Tory backbencher Sir Bob Neill – set to be debated on Tuesday – could yet be the Government's undoing. Veteran backbencher Sir Roger Gale, one of two Conservative MPs who voted against the Government on Tuesday night, predicted more of his colleagues could rebel next week. He said: "I took a view that you fight this tooth and nail at every step. Others have quite clearly decided they want to hold their fire for Bob Neill's amendment. There is much to play for yet." Why is the Internal Market Bill controversial? The controversial Bill has stoked up division inside the Conservative Party that is reminiscent of the high-stakes Brexit brinkmanship we witnessed last year. But this time it goes further than Leave or Remain. Prominent Eurosceptics, such as Lord Howard and former attorney general Geoffrey Cox, have raised their concerns over the Government's admission that the Bill, if enacted, would break international law. That it would be, as Northern Ireland Secretary Brendan Lewis insisted, in a "very specific and limited way" did little to alleviate their fears. To date, all living former Prime Ministers, five ex-Conservative party leaders and 30 of the party's MPs have expressed their discomfort. Ministers (well, most of them) are standing firm. In the Commons on Monday night, Mr Johnson insisted the legislation was necessary to prevent the EU taking an "extreme and unreasonable" interpretation of the provisions in the Withdrawal Agreement relating to Northern Ireland. The Prime Minister warned that some in Brussels were now threatening to block UK agri-food exports to the EU, and to insist on tariffs on all goods moving to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. "Absurd and self-defeating as that action would be even as we debate this matter, the EU still have not taken this revolver off the table," he said. However, shadow business secretary Ed Miliband repeatedly asked the Prime Minister to explain how the Bill would protect Northern Ireland from the threat of a potential food blockade. "I know you're a details man. Show me the blockade. I will give way to you," Mr Miliband scoffed, but the Prime Minister merely shook his head in disdain. Looking back The UK's internal market dates back to the early 1700s, when it was created to ensure "open and unhindered trade" across the four nations. But when the UK joined the then-European Economic Community in 1973, most of the British trade laws were replaced by European laws. It was Margaret Thatcher's government in the 1980s that helped to forge the formal creation of the single market between EU nations. It was designed to open European markets to British exporters and to level the playing field for UK firms across the continent. Regarding all EU member states as one territory, the bloc devised rules about everything from food standards to fisheries to ensure consistency across the bloc. The Internal Market Bill is its proposed replacement, aiming to ensure all four of the UK's home nations are not limited by regulations determined by each devolved Government. It also aims to guarantee the international community has access to the UK as a whole, knowing the standards and rules are the same throughout. One of the major issues is how this can apply to Northern Ireland when it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland, which will remain in the EU. This where the controversy kicks in. The Bill could contradict the Withdrawal Agreement, and therefore international law, as it says ministers could have the power to "disapply" previously agreed rules relating to the movement of goods. This includes those under the Northern Ireland Protocol. Anything else I need to know? On Tuesday Sir Bob's amendment will be in front of the House and its supporters claim "the momentum is with us". The proposal would impose a "parliamentary lock" on any changes to the Withdrawal Agreement, giving Parliament the final say on whether it is appropriate to renege on the treaty. Rebel MPs believe that up to 20 of their colleagues who backed the Bill this week may be minded to also support the amendment, leaving the Government facing an almost tangible defeat. However, we might be spared the Commons fireworks of 2019's Brexit battles. It is understood that ministers are working to find a "compromise" with the group, with Mr Johnson meeting Sir Bob and some of his supporters before Monday's Commons vote. Tory rebels say they engaged in "constructive" talks with the Prime Minister, with many MPs increasingly hopeful that a deal can be reached. One of the group said: "It's early days but it feels as if we are edging towards a compromise being reached." However, the Government may require "small tweaks" to the amendment as it stands to reach an agreement. The Refresher take Originally Downing Street threatened to withdraw the whip from rebels who defied the Government, but privately talks have taken a carrot rather than a stick approach. Boris Johnson has told rebels there is not a "cigarette paper" between them and implied there would be reassurances. There are suggestions that concessions may also be in the Government's favour. If MPs vote to trigger the mechanism then it would be more difficult to challenge in court. So with a few treats, and perhaps a bit of a tummy rub, the rebellion's bark may be worse than its bite.
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| Experts cite 'crimes against humanity' in Maduro's Venezuela Posted: 16 Sep 2020 05:02 AM PDT  Independent experts for the U.N.'s top human rights body accused the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday of crimes against humanity, highlighting grisly cases of torture and killings allegedly carried out by security forces who used techniques like electric shocks, genital mutilation and asphyxiation. In a scathing, in-depth report commissioned by the Human Rights Council, the experts said the people responsible for extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and other crimes must be held to account to provide justice for untold thousands of victims and to ensure such crimes don't happen again. The findings of the report are likely to ratchet up pressure on Maduro's government, which has overseen a country in tatters with runaway inflation, a violent crackdown and an exodus of millions of Venezuelans who have fled to neighboring countries to escape the turmoil since he took power in 2013.
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| Primate monkeys around with student's phone, takes selfies Posted: 16 Sep 2020 04:42 AM PDT  A Malaysian student whose cellphone was stolen while he was sleeping has tracked down the culprit: a monkey who took photo and video selfies with the device before abandoning it. Zackrydz Rodzi, 20, said Wednesday that his phone was missing from his bedroom when he woke up Saturday.
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| Bosnian Serbs honor late ex-official convicted of war crimes Posted: 16 Sep 2020 04:32 AM PDT  SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — Bosnian Serb authorities on Wednesday held an official commemoration for a top former wartime leader, despite his war crimes conviction by a U.N. court. The Bosnian Serb president, prime minister and other officials attended the event in the northern city of Banja Luka, the seat of the Serb-run part of Bosnia called Republika Srpska. The gathering illustrates the continued Bosnian Serb denial of their wartime leaders' role in the atrocities committed against non-Serbs during the 1992-95 war in Bosnia.
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| CORRECTED-Maduro security forces committed crimes against humanity - UN Posted: 16 Sep 2020 04:00 AM PDT |
| 10 things you need to know today: September 16, 2020 Posted: 16 Sep 2020 03:51 AM PDT |
| UK could surrender control over Channel Islands' fishing in bid to pass Brexit deal Posted: 16 Sep 2020 03:22 AM PDT  Britain could surrender control over fishing waters around the Channel Islands in an attempt to resolve a key dispute in Brexit negotiations with the European Union, it has been claimed. The EU has floated the possibility of instating different fishing rights around the Channel Islands to those around the UK, allowing more access for French and Dutch vessels, the Telegraph understands. The proposal would likely involve less EU access to the Channel Islands' waters than it currently has, but more than if Britain had sole control. Government sources on Wednesday insisted there would be "no departure from our fundamental position that we will have control of our waters around there [the Channel Islands]." Jersey and Guernsey are not part of the United Kingdom, although defence of the islands and most foreign relations are handled by the British Government. It is understood that the dependencies could make their own decision on the issue if they saw fit. The latest proposal is one of various suggestions to unlock discussions on fishing rights after Brexit, which remain a major stumbling block in deal negotiations.
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| 'I up-played it': Trump disputes own admission he downplayed coronavirus Posted: 16 Sep 2020 03:13 AM PDT  President insists during rambling town hall he 'up-played' crisis and believes virus will go away because of 'herd mentality' * Coronavirus – latest updates * See all our coronavirus coverageDonald Trump falsely claimed he did not downplay the coronavirus pandemic at a town hall Tuesday night, saying, "Actually, in many ways, I up-played it, in terms of action."His remarks came in response to an uncommitted voter at the ABC News event, who asked Trump why he would "downplay a pandemic that is known to disproportionately harm low-income families and minority communities". The president said he did not minimize the threat of the virus: "My action was very strong. I'm not looking to be dishonest. I don't want people to panic."Trump's misleading response comes one week after the investigative journalist, Bob Woodward, revealed that the president explicitly admitted to downplaying the virus in interviews with him. Woodward has reported that, although Trump's national security adviser gave him a "jarring" warning in January about the virus, calling it the "biggest national security threat" of his presidency, Trump continued to understate the risks in public statements.On 27 February, Trump said publicly: "It's going to disappear. One day – it's like a miracle – it will disappear." On 9 March, he compared it to the flu, tweeting, "Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on".By 19 March, Trump declared a national emergency. But at the same time, he told Woodward: "I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down, because I don't want to create a panic."In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, Bob Woodward said of Trump: "I don't know if he's got it straight in his head, to be honest, what is real and what is unreal."At the ABC town hall, the president also said the virus would "go away", with or without a vaccine. This would happen because of "herd mentality", he said. It is unclear whether he meant herd immunity, because he repeated the phrase several times."It would go away without the vaccine, George," he told ABC journalist George Stephanopoulos. "With time it goes away. And you'll develop like a herd mentality. It's going to be herd developed, and that's going to happen. That will all happen."> TRUMP: It is going away > > STEPHANOPOULOS: Without a vaccine? > > TRUMP: Sure. Over a period of time > > S: And many deaths > > TRUMP: It's gonna be herd developed pic.twitter.com/dtJRE7XwFX> > — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 16, 2020Trump also responded to the voter's question by repeating misleading claims about his early travel restrictions during Covid, falsely calling them "bans" on China and Europe.The president made other questionable claims about the virus on Tuesday night. Asked by one uncommitted voter why he doesn't do a better job promoting mask usage and why he doesn't wear masks more often, the president again cast doubts on the scientific consensus of his own administration, which has strongly urged the use of face coverings."There are people that don't think masks are good," Trump said, adding that masks cause problems for "waiters".Asked why he doesn't support a national mask mandate, the president suggested the voter could ask that question to Democrats and to his rival Joe Biden, saying, "He didn't do it. They never did it." It's unclear what the president was referring to, given that the former vice-president is not currently an elected official and has no authority to implement any mask policy.The president further defended his early praise of China's handling of Covid-19 at the start of the pandemic. He said he trusted Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader, at the time: "He told me that it was under control, that everything was and it turned out to be not true."On the campaign trail, Biden has repeatedly criticized the president for misrepresenting the threat of the virus at the start of the crisis. At a recent event in Michigan, the Democratic nominee said: "He knew how deadly it was. It was much more deadly than the flu. He knew and purposely played it down. Worse, he lied to the American people. He knowingly and willingly lied about the threat it posed to the country for months."The president has had a number of campaign events that have defied state orders on Covid, with large crowds indoors, not practising social distancing.Biden will take questions from voters on Thursday when he participates in a televised town hall hosted by CNN. Trump and Biden will meet for the first presidential debate at the end of September.
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